SHERYL LEE RALPH-Lupe Ontiveros Image Award
Actress, Activist, Author, Entertainer, Singer, Director, Writer
Original DREAMGIRL, Sheryl Lee Ralph is a multifaceted jewel of a woman who sparkles in aspects of life. Her award winning body of work in film, television and the Broadway stage includes originating and creating the role of Deena Jones on Broadway in DREAMGIRLS (Tony Award Nomination and Drama Desk for Best Actress).
On television, Sheryl Lee is starring in the new Nickelodeon series Instant Mom and can be seen in Ray Donovan. Her credits include CBS’s 2 Broke GIRLS, NBC’s SMASH, NBC‘s ER, Showtime’s Barbershop, where she broke ground as post-operative transsexual, Claire.
She then starred in New Attitude, the George Foreman series George and the hit comedy Designing Women and was voted one of TV’s Favorite Moms for the series Moesha receiving numerous NAACP Image Award nominations.
Her extensive film credits include The Mighty Quinn, Sister Act II, Mistress and Distinguished Gentleman. Sheryl Lee’s performance To Sleep with Anger won her the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress and recently wrapped on JD Lawrence’s Community Service JD Lawrence’s Community Service.
Sheryl Lee Ralph is truly a multi-talented artist with her first authored book “Redefining DIVA” (Simon&Schuster) debuting to rave reviews. Ms. Ralph proposes that a real diva is a strong woman who respects herself and others and who promotes positive change presenting an engrossing story of a woman who challenged Hollywood.
As a national speaker, Sheryl Lee consistently creates a contagious positive image with her spontaneous humor and quick wit, which has made her a much sought-after speaker, guest, guest-host and celebrity expert. She has appeared on: HLN, ShowBiz Tonight, Joan Velez Mitchell, Dr. Drew, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, The Daily Show, FOX & Friends, Good Day LA, Good Day NY, CBS Morning News, CNBC Africa, The Martha Stewart Show, The Wendy Williams Show, The Michael Baisden Show, Tom Joyner Show.
Additionally, Sheryl Lee is a passionate health advocate and honored AIDS activist, and the founding director of the DIVA (Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed) Foundation 501(C)3 which she created in memory of the many friends she had lost to HIV/AIDS.
As a producer, Sheryl Lee found new success with her production company, Island Girl Productions, writing, directing and producing her award-winning short film Secrets and is a mother of two with a blended family of four.