Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph seemed to take shots at the Academy Awards voting process during an interview on the red carpet on Sunday.
Ralph, best known for her role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, was disappointed that British actress Cynthia Erivo didn’t win the Best actress award for “Wicked.”
The 68-year-old “Abbott Elementary” star attended the Vanity Fair Oscar After Party on Sunday, March 2.
“I was disappointed that Wicked didn’t get more [awards],” she said during an interview on the red carpet.
“Wicked” won 2 Oscars at the 2025 Academy Awards – for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. The movie was nominated for 10 awards.
Erivo (pictured with Ariana Grande) has won a Tony Award, a Daytime Emmy Award, and a Grammy Award, but she has yet to win a coveted Oscar.
Ralph implied that Erivo might have won an Oscar if she played a stripper role.
“I have told people over and over and over again: The fastest way to an Oscar is either on a pole or have… I’m telling you, sex sells baby, sex sells,” Ralph said.
Ralph’s answer shocked the interviewer who said she didn’t expect her to say that.
One social media user noted that “14 women have won academy awards for playing sex workers.”
“I have told people over and over and over again: The fastest way to an Oscar is either on a pole or….I’m telling you, sex sells baby.” – Sheryl Lee Ralph pic.twitter.com/cL6SfD1aEt
— viva verdi! (@verderebb) March 3, 2025
