Paging Meryl and Denzel! Abbott Elementary's Sheryl Lee Ralph Has Her Sights Set on 2 Oscar Winner Cameos (original) (raw)

Sheryl Lee Ralph has her sights set on some A-listers to join Abbott Elementary.

The sitcom star, 67, told Variety on the red carpet ahead of Monday’s Emmy Awards who her dream guest stars would be on the hit ABC series – and they’re both Oscar winners.

“I really want Denzel [Washington] as my brother,” she said, though she admitted that while she really just wants the actor “to show up,” she hasn’t actually asked him to make an appearance.

Ralph then revealed that she “heard there’s a possibility” of Meryl Streep making a cameo, which gives her hope for Washington, 69, too. “I mean, if it can be Meryl, I mean, it can be Denzel!”

As for who she’d want Streep, 74, to play on the show she said she doesn’t know, but reacted positively to the suggestion she plays her sister. “My stepsister. That would be nice. How ‘bout that?”

Jon Kopaloff/WireImage, Presley Ann/Getty, Momodu Mansaray/WireImage

Ultimately, Ralph said that while she and her castmates “have so many ideas,” it’s all in the more than capable hands of creator and star Quinta Brunson — who made history at the Emmys with her outstanding actress in a comedy series win.

“Quinta is absolutely the visionary and she knows exactly who fits perfectly in this show, so I lean onto her,” Ralph said. “But I can have my fantasies!”

Sheryl Lee Ralph at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Like Ralph, Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter has some ideas about potential guest stars on the sitcom, too.

Walter told Entertainment Tonight at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday that she "would love" to see her Parent Trap costar Lindsay Lohan make an appearance on the show.

"I guess we'd have to make her a relative since we're both redheads — since I'm a 'redhead' and she actually is," said Walter, 60. "I would love that. That would be so fun."

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY - SHERYL LEE RALPH.

ABC/Gilles Mingasson

Monday's awards show was a big night for Abbott Elementary. Ralph earned her second Emmy nomination for her portrayal of veteran teacher Barbara Howard, and she was joined in the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series category by her costar Janelle James. Tyler James Williams also earned a nod for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, and the show was up for outstanding comedy series.

Brunson was the only star to take home an award, though, as James and Ralph were beat out by _The Bear’_s Ayo Edebiri and Williams by Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

The Abbott creator made history as the first Black woman to win outstanding lead actress in a comedy in 42 years on Monday and was moved to tears as she made an emotional acceptance speech.

"Thank you so much I love making Abbott Elementary so much and I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy, and I say it every time and I just love comedy so much that I am so happy to be able to get this," she continued. "I didn’t prepare anything because I just didn't think... Oh god. I love my mom, my dad. My sisters, my brothers. My entire family so much. I love my husband. I'm so happy. I love my cast. Oh, I love Abbott Elementary. Thank you so much."

Quinta Brunson, winner of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "Abbott Elementary", attends the 75th Emmy Awards Governors Gala.

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Brunson, 34, plays Philadelphia school teacher Janine Teagues in the ABC series. She was a double nominee this year, also receiving recognition in the outstanding guest actress in a comedy series category for hosting Saturday Night Live last spring_._

With her win, alongside Edebiri’s, further history was made as Monday marked the first time a pair of Black actresses won the two comedy categories in the same year. The last Black woman to take home the honor in Brunson’s category was Isabel Sanford for her role in The Jeffersons in 1961.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Abbott Elementary season 3 premieres Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.