Sheryl Lee Ralph is first and foremost - a lady.
Her presence causes heads to turn and tongues to wag when she enters
or leaves a space. She’s the type to beguile you with legendary tales
from her sordid Hollywood past, only breaking her cadence to sing you a
song to illustrate her point.
Right now the stunning Mrs. Ralph is touring the country to promote her one woman show Sometimes I Cry
- a show written and conceived by the award winning actress. It’s acomplex and thought provoking show that was inspired by the real life stories of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Rocka.Candy was lucky enough to grace Sheryl’s presence for a second time - we told you about the first embarrassing experience on the old blog. This time instead of chasing Ms Ralph through the streets of NYC, she sat down with us and filled us in on why she thinks Beyonce is not a Dreamgirl, explains her relationship with Brandy, and why the AID’s Epidemic is everyone’s problem.
Rocka.Candy: You have your one woman show now…
Sheryl Lee Ralph: I am searching for money for my one woman show, Sometimes I Cry. Because I believe in the Tyler Perry concept. To thine own audience be true, know it, cultivate it, play to it. Life is so simple, but we make it complicated.
R.C: How did you get involved with the Black Aid’s Institute?
SLR: In the summer of 2003 I went on the road with Phil Wilson, who founded the Black Aid’s Institute,
and at time people were saying, “Why do we need a Black Aid’s Institute?” And he was like come with me, and we went to some cities where it wasn’t on the front page, and we learned how the face of the disease was going to change drastically.
I heard about the disease back when I was doing Dreamgirls, nobody wanted to talk about the Gay men’s cancer, or something called Grid. People were getting infected and Christians were throwing the first stone - judging. Now 20 years later we look and learn Aid’s is about all of us. And it didn’t have to get to be all of us, but so many of us thought we were better than some people. And we let it get to this point. Now when I see what’s happening with Black people - I am afraid. No one is thinking about black people. How healthy are
you? That depends on how wealthy you are…
R.C: What should be done?
SLR: There are real issues that have to be dealt with. There is an old saying, “When Momma don’t feel good, nobody feels good, and right about now, Momma is sick.”
Too many young folks are not getting the message that they need to be in control. If you going to be out there doing what you do, however you do… Knockin’ boots… whatever, you got to get real. This shit will kill you. And if your momma didn’t tell you Aunt Sheryl is here to tell you, Wrap it up.
R.C: I can’t believe Sheryl Lee Ralph just said, “This shit will kill you.” to me.
SLR: Well, this shit will kill you.
R.C: How do you feel about Dreamgirls getting the Hollywood treatment?
SLR: It’s hard. Believe or not in the 1980’s when Dreamgirls opened we completely changed theater, we changed who came to the theater, and who was interested in theater. And now 25 years later, people find it so easy to act like we didn’t do what we did. Loretta Divine and Vondie Curtis Hall were in the original company, there were some great folks who are still working today.
R.C: How do you feel about Beyonce portraying the role you originally bought to life - Deena Jones?
SLR: It’s interesting, when Tom Eyen who is the creator, had this idea, he said that the Dreams, have to be three obviously black girls. Why? Because America will always go for that light, bright, long haired black girl because they will feel comfortable building her up, since they see themselves in her.
But for the obviously black girl, if she makes it, she deserves to be right there. Because they aren’t trying to push her, that’s why the Dreams had to be three obviously black girls.
So when they cast Beyonce in the role of Deena Jones. I said, “Wow, this is exactly what Tom Eyen said would happen.” They going to take to that light, bright blackish blonde girl because they feel comfortable with her. That’s the reality.
R.C: Who would you have cast as Deena Jones?
SLR: That’s hard because the industry isn’t pushing her, so you don’t have an obvious one to pick from. The closest one I can think of, that’s an obvious black girl with that glamour thing to her is Lauryn Hill. Heather Headley is kind of close but she’s not Deena. You know Deena is Diana Ross, she’s a drama girl, an out right glamour girl.
R.C: Most people know you as Moesha‘s Mom…
SLR: No, they know me as Moesha’s Momma.
R.C: Do you still keep in contact with former co-stars?
SLR: You know I hear from Marcus Paulk (Myles) often. I’ve heard from Britney’s babby momma-daddy-ex, Shar Jackson (Neicy), because when that was going down people were asking me questions. I found it very interesting that they were trying to paint an odd picture of Shar - Shar is a good mother, and she was raising two kids when we were doing Moesha. And to survive being left in front of the whole country while she’s pregnant, she’s done well.
My God, I kept in touch with Lamont Bentley (Hakeem), but his death is still hard. Lamont had really, really overcome some demons, and for him to fall asleep and fall off a cliff, it was like, “Oh God, why.” But God doesn’t make any mistakes, God knows what he’s doing - but that was really hard.
I don’t speak to William Young (Frank) as much, but I married my own senator so I’m good.
R.C: You ever hear from Brandy?
You know I don’t speak to Brandy as much. You know that was an odd transition for her at that time. She was 14 years old, in the limelight, and sometimes if you don’t have the right kind of guidance around you, it can be a difficult trip. I think that she’s probably strong enough and on a different side of her career now - she can recreate herself and be a new woman.
R.C: We met once before when I first moved to NYC, and you were in Thoroughly Modern Millie?
SLR: Oh, you’re new to NYC?
R.C: Yeah, It was about two years ago and I walking through Times Square, and I spotted you. I made my way over to you, but when you spotted me, you made a mad dash in the other direction. If my self esteem was low, my feelings would have been hurt.
SLR: Sometimes you don’t want to be seen. What happens is that sometimes I forget that I am recognizable. Most times I am just living my life, out doing things. Then when someone reminds you, you’re like “Oh.” I’m myself but I forget.
R.C: You’ve put out albums, movies, television? What’s next?
SLR: I would like to be a blazing success with one of them, that’s what I would like. Now I am writing which was very unexpected. I always knew I could write, it was the last course I took in college, and I remember my teacher, “And she said it’s too bad you didn’t discover this sooner,” so now I love writing, and I am loving the response I am getting.
R.C: At your level, what motivates you?
SLR: I have a very simple rule in life, it’s just as easy to be happy as it is to be unhappy. It’s just as easy to have a good attitude that to have a bad attitude. The brain is a very powerful thing, but it only thinks what you make it think. Me being in control of me helps me love my children and my man more, cause I’m in control. What does Janet say, “Control.” [she sings the chorus of Control]
Related: Below is a performance from the Tony Awards, featuring Original Dreamgirls, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, and Jennifer Holiday.
Tags: Brandy, Interviews, Sheryl Lee Ralph
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