Emmy Winner Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Sweet Family Story About the Queen (Exclusive)

Sheryl Lee Ralph took home the Emmy for her work as Barbara Howard on the hit ABC show “Abbott Elementary,” and captivated viewers with her acceptance speech.

After her name was announced for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Ralph took the stage and performed a powerful passage from Dianne Reeves’ “Endangered Species.”

“Extra” was with Ralph at the Hulu after-party, where she reflected on her win and that inspiring speech that brought down the house. Explaining what she was feeling, Ralph said, “Right now, every wonderful thing you can imagine because I stood up there and I held this thing real high saying, ‘This is what it looks like to keep on moving forward, don't ever give up on yourself, and make sure that you stand up for yourself — be your own best cheerleader.’”

Earlier in the night, before her big win, Ralph was on the red carpet with “Extra’s” Adam Glassman. The “Abbott Elementary” star shared a personal story about the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the future of the monarchy. Adam asked, “How do you think the monarchy should go forward?”

Ralph said, “My Auntie Carolyn was a lifetime teacher, and one of the great things she did was invite the Queen of England to her school, Bunker Hill School in Washington, D.C. Not only did the Queen come, but the Queen sipped tea and poured it, too. So, to the royal family, change is about to come for you all and I hope you are up for the change, because it's going to be good for you and the rest of the world… and we say to the Queen, ‘You rest in peace, lady, because you lived a good life. And I know because you went to D.C. Thank you!’”

While it was day of celebration, the death of Queen Elizabeth II was on the minds of many stars, including Lily James, Sarah Niles, and Juno Temple.

Lily praised the Queen, calling her dedication to the throne “mind-blowing.” She added, “It’s certainly very inspiring. She was close in age to my granny, who I lost earlier this year, and my granny loved her so much. She kind of feels like the grandmother to all of us. Her legacy will live on, it really will, whatever change comes now… She did amazing things.”

Juno shared, “It is such a loss. I gotta say, though, what a life she lived, right? It’s a loss but also a celebration of an extraordinary woman who lived a beautifully, wonderfully long, fulfilling life.”

Temple’s "Ted Lasso" co-star Sarah added, “It’s a lot to process and so much has happened. [King Charles III] has a lot to work through. Of course, he’s prepared for it in a way.”