"HELLO DEAR, how are you? The time is just so hot, whew! Since I came back home, I've been drinking lots of water, lots of it with lime and honey. You know that is just so refreshing and ooh, Jamaican coffee is simply divine. There's just something so wonderful about Blue Mountain coffee," said the American sounding voice on the telephone.
"Oh, I know exactly what you mean, I am a coffee drinker myself," I responded.
Talking to renowned actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph feels like you're chatting with a good friend. Not only is she full of spunk, she exudes a Jamaican warmth and familiarity despite her prominence and success in Hollywood and on Broadway.
Born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut, in the United States, Ralph said she doesn't miss an opportunity to come to Jamaica. She lived with her Jamaican-born father, Professor Stanley Ralph, in the U.S. but summers found her in the island with her mother, designer Ivy Ralph.
The Jamerican, as Ralph describes herself, was in the island for a few days to begin promoting the fifth annual Jamerican Film and Music Festival (JFMF) (her brainchild) scheduled for Montego Bay this November. Flair caught up with the busy Ms. Ralph last week and she gave us an inside look into her philosophy on life and how she maintains her gorgeous figure.
I would like to be remembered as... God-fearing as I try to do the right thing at all times, knowing that whatever I do God is watching over me. We have the choice of doing either right or wrong and if you love God, you will try and make the right choice.
If I weren't acting... my other career choices would be politics and social work because I believe that everyone in society needs to have his or her voice heard. Some persons need guidance to make some of the important decisions in their lives. Sometimes things happen to them for which they are not prepared. If I were a social worker I think I could make a difference there. As a politician, I would ensure that there would be harsher penalties for sex offenders. Rape and incest have increased significantly while just simply walking on the street as a woman can pose a problem. There has been enough talking, it's now time to do something about it.
My favourite foods are... curried goat, oxtail and ackee and saltfish. For a quick meal patties, coco bread and kola champagne will definitely fill a gap for me. I consider hardough bread one the greatest creations, especially when it's hot right out of the oven. Jamaica has the best fruits ever so when I visit I eat lots of mangoes and sweetsops whenever they are in season.
Being a famous actress... has frightened a lot of men away. I find that younger men are more accepting of me at my age. Perhaps younger men find older women more appealing.
I've found a wonderful man to whom I am engaged (this would be her second marriage). He is Senator Hughes, a black American from Pennsylvania. We haven't set a wedding date yet, but he's 46 years old, closer to my age and that's wonderful. Personally, I believe that love can happen at any age.
The most important advice I've given my children... is that life is about choices. Be careful what you do and watch the things you say as whatever is done in the dark will come to light. I also teach them that the words to live by are those written in the Bible in red as they are spoken by Jesus Christ. In fact, if Jesus had lived on earth during the 21st century, he would be considered crazy. He is quite a radical character you know.
My favourite garment... is my birthday suit. I feel so comfortable in it. I like being naked. At home I just walk around naked you know, I just bare it all.
I prefer to perform in concerts... as I am able to make contact with my audience. Although I love performing on Broadway, it can be rigorous. Film can also be demanding and the pressure of the two comes in spurts. With television, especially when we were filming Moesha, it wasn't bad, and for a while I had a regular work schedule accompanied with some perks such as getting months off at a time that in itself was a great gift. (Ralph played the stepmother of singer Brandy in the hit television show Moesha).
I am happy because... everyday that I'm above the ground is beautiful. I am alive and I have hope. I hope that things will get better with the universe. I believe that things will change and I try my best to do the best that I can with what I've got. Everyday I see miracles and we should really try and do our best just because it's the right thing to do.
- Michelle Barrett
How she stays
looking so good
HEADS TURN whenever Sheryl Lee Ralph steps into a room and no wonder. The actress, in her 40s, has a body the envy of women half her age.
Five feet eight inches and curvaceous, Ralph says her slim figure is due to genetics, regular aerobic sessions and a balanced diet.
She notes that she never liked the idea of exercise, but during her first pregnancy with son, Etienne, now 11, she gained 20 pounds. She lost 10 pounds after giving birth but realised that the other 10 would not come off by itself, so she resorted to working it off.
"With my second pregnancy, I gained 30 pounds and lost only 10 after having Coco (Ivy-Victoria), who is now eight. I was living in New York at the time and you know that with all that rush a girl can be so caught up that eventually she neglects her body and it falls to ruins.
"I had to take a step back, take a couple of deep breaths and bring my life back in order. I really stepped up with my exercise regime."
She bought a couple of videotapes by fitness trainer Donna Richardson, which had low and high-impact routines. She still works out with these videotapes at least three to four times a week.
"She uses simple movements that can be developed further. Take, for instance, while sitting in a chair there are so many exercises that one can do. First, you need to have the will and desire to do it."
It's also important to watch what you eat, Ralph advises.
"I know I have a bad habit of not eating right or at the right time so of late, I'm making a concerted effort to try and have a balanced meal. I try to eat protein, starch and vegetables in balanced proportions so I'm imploring Jamaicans to watch their diet very carefully as the rate of life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and hypertension is on the rise."
