Longevity does not scare Sheryl Lee Ralph. As Abbott Elementary heads toward another season, the Emmy-winning actress can picture staying with Barbara Howard for years, provided creator Quinta Brunson and the writers keep finding new ground for her character.
Sheryl Lee Ralph feels Abbott Elementary could follow Grey’s Anatomy with a decades-long run
Sheryl Lee Ralph, 69, shared that outlook with PEOPLE at Project Angel Food’s Angel Awards Gala in Los Angeles. Her attachment to Barbara remains strong. She teaches kindergarten and music, and Ralph said she is not tired of playing her.
She would happily follow Barbara through five more seasons, which would take the sitcom to 11. “I would love to still be with her, and just as I continue to grow, I really hope Barbara Howard continues to grow,” she said.
For Ralph, the bigger target stretches much farther. She pointed to Grey’s Anatomy, which arrived in 2005 and now will be airing its 23rd season. “If Grey’s Anatomy could be on for 20 years, why can’t we?” she told PEOPLE.
That confidence has receipts behind it. Since Abbott Elementary premiered in 2021, the comedy has earned 37 Emmy nominations and taken home four trophies. Its early haul included wins for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series in 2022, before Brunson added Outstanding Lead Actress to the show’s résumé in 2023 for playing Janine Teagues.
Ralph soon made Emmy history of her own. In 2022, she won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Barbara Howard, becoming only the second Black woman to win the award after Jackée Harry’s 1987 victory for 227. Ralph has remained a fixture in the category, collecting three additional nominations since that breakthrough win.
Ralph also made clear that she does not see Barbara’s future as hers alone to decide. She said the character’s continued growth depends on Brunson and the writers’ room, while adding that she would love to remain part of the journey if the sitcom earns those additional seasons.
