Sheryl Lee Ralph reveals her thriving health secret while ageing

The Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph has always prioritised her health over a Hollywood career spanning more than four decades.

Speaking with PEOPLE, the Abbott Elementary star discussed her partnership with GSK for their THRIVE@50+ campaign, which aims to celebrate, encourage, and empower people aged 50 and older to be aware of potential health risks, including shingles.

“People think, oh shingles, it’s no big deal,” Ralph said. “Trust me, shingles is a painful, blistering rash — and you don’t have to get it.”

The Emmy winner further highlighted that 99% of adults aged 50 and above already carry the virus that causes shingles, though not all will develop it.

Ralph said raising awareness was a no-brainer, especially after watching her grandmother suffer from the same condition.

“I remember what it was like when my grandmother suffered from shingles,” she recalled. “For some people, it might last a week or so. For her, it was a few weeks. And just seeing her in that pain is something that never, ever left my mind.”

The Tony-winning actress explained that her grandmother’s experience pushed her to take initiative.

“That was one of the reasons I thought, hmm, this is important to get involved with — to have this conversation, to encourage people to talk with their doctor or their pharmacist about their risk of developing shingles, and to also talk about prevention,” Ralph concluded.

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