Sheryl Lee Ralph Honored at Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Awards

Variety

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00:00I have the faith that sees the invisible, expects the incredible, receives the

00:18impossible, faith that can conquer anything, faith that uproots my problems, faith to know

00:39God, God can solve them, faith to vision my freedom, my freedom, oh, faith that can conquer

01:03anything.

01:06Good evening everybody and first, let me say thank you to my friend, my cast mate, my

01:32Lisa Ann Walters.

01:34You know, for taking the time to be here this evening, you know, we work very long hours.

01:43We are up at 4 o'clock to be on set by 5.30 to be ready to shoot at 7.30, and it is a

01:51grind, so when somebody asks you to come and be with them after hours, thank you.

02:00I want to thank Variety and the Coalition for Faith and Media for this extraordinary

02:09honor to be recognized as a visionary for faith and spirituality in entertainment.

02:17Now, that's humbling.

02:22Faith has been a guiding light in my life, a constant source of strength, resilience,

02:31and hope.

02:33It is that quiet whisper that reminds me who I am, even in moments of doubt, and there

02:41have been many.

02:44It is that force that has carried me through doors that others said would not be open for

02:52someone like me.

02:57Faith has allowed me to stand tall in places where I wasn't always welcomed, and tonight

03:03it is faith that allows me to share this stage with so many faithful storytellers who are

03:13lifting up narratives that often go unheard.

03:19In an industry that thrives on the spectacular, it can be hard to make space for something

03:26as deeply personal as spirituality.

03:31But faith, real faith, is not about easy answers or glossy portrayals.

03:40It is about the messy, the beautiful, the complicated journey that we all take to find

03:49meaning, connection, and purpose.

03:54Faith, it's about stories that reflect our shared humanity, that honor the questions

04:01as much as the answers, that celebrate the sacred in the everyday grind.

04:14Through my portrayal of the blessed Barbara Howard on ABC's Abbott Elementary, a character

04:23so lovingly created by our alchemist Quinta Brunson, I have tried to honor that journey,

04:37whether it's in a storyline of the committed teacher inspiring her students and those around

04:43her, or the woman of faith simply striving to do what is right while embracing change.

04:53I am honored to show the power of faith, not just as a belief system, but as an action

05:04and a way of being.

05:07Because faith is that blessed thing that makes broken wings fly.

05:15I want to thank my family.

05:17I want to thank my team.

05:20I want to thank every creator, writer, and producer in this room who dares to tell stories

05:31that shine a light on the soul.

05:36You remind us that entertainment is more than just escapism.

05:41Entertainment is a mirror, a bridge, and sometimes a lifeline like Abbott Elementary.

05:52To those in this room and beyond, because the cameras are running, those who continue

06:01to push for nuanced, compelling portrayals of faith in media, know that your work matters.

06:10You matter.

06:11It is shifting hearts and it is opening minds.

06:16Especially the dreamers out there, especially the ones who feel unseen.

06:20Oh, I know what that feels like.

06:23Know this.

06:26Your story matters.

06:30Your voice matters.

06:33And your faith, whatever it looks like, is enough to move mountains.

06:42And take that from someone who has looked at many mountains and said, either you will

06:49move or I will have to climb you.

06:58Thank you for this honor.

07:00Let us continue to tell stories that uplift, stories that connect, stories that inspire.

07:07Together, we can ensure that faith and spirituality remain vibrant, essential parts of our shared narrative.

07:18I thank you, and God, or whatever you believe in or don't believe in, let it bless you indeed.

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