Robert De Niro Gave Sheryl Lee Ralph This Unforgettable Advice 33 Years Ago on the Set of “Mistress” (Exclusive)

Sheryl Lee Ralph sewage proposal from an unexpected source: Robert De Niro.

While speaking pinch PEOPLE astatine nan Gotham TV Awards connected Monday, June 2, nan Abbott Elementary actress and Emmy winner, 68, shares nan career-guiding proposal that she's ne'er forgotten.

“About 33 years ago, I was doing a movie pinch Robert De Niro, and successful betwixt scenes, Robert De Niro looked astatine maine and said, 'Hollywood's not looking for nan Black girl. So, you amended climb that upland and activity nan reddish flag, and fto them cognize that you're there,' " she says.

Ralph was filming Mistress, a 1992 drama that starred De Niro, Danny Aiello, Eli Wallach and Jean Smart.  

The longtime actress, who besides starred successful Broadway's Dreamgirls and Sister Act 2: Back successful nan Habit, was honored pinch nan Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute astatine nan 2nd yearly awards ceremony, which she called a “full-circle moment” because of Poitier's early engagement successful her career.

“Mr. Sidney Poitier rather virtually opened nan doorway to Hollywood for maine by casting maine successful my first movie, A Piece of nan Action,” nan prima tells PEOPLE. “And he formed maine complete his ain daughter, Pamela. Pamela ever says to me, ‘Sheryl Lee Ralph, you stole my career.’ And he looked astatine maine and he said, ‘Sheryl Lee Ralph, I expect awesome things from you.’ And I learned truthful overmuch successful that clip pinch him.”

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The character has had a storied profession and astir precocious won an Emmy for her capacity successful Abbott Elementary. She shares that she’s not slowing down anytime soon and says, “It's not complete until you opportunity it's over.”

“If you cognize it's for you, past you support correct connected going,” she shares pinch PEOPLE. “I kept chipping distant astatine those solid ceilings. I kept trying to recreate myself to enactment relevant, to unfastened doors that were very tightly shut, and astatine times, build my ain table. I look backmost now and I say, 'Thank you, Mr. Poitier. Thank you very overmuch because I'm still here.' "