In a recent interview, Sheryl Lee Ralph provided a nostalgic glimpse into her experiences on the set of the 1993 film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, where she worked alongside a young Lauryn Hill. Ralph portrayed Florence Watson, the stern mother of Hill’s character, Rita. Reflecting on their time together, Ralph described the 16-year-old Hill as a remarkable talent filled with confidence and ambition.
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Speaking during a career retrospective for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, the 69-year-old actress expressed her admiration for Hill, recalling how the young star was “overflowing, brimming with talent and confidence.” Ralph candidly remarked, “I thought I was confident,” before emphasising that Hill’s confidence was evident “with a capital ‘C’.”
One standout moment that Ralph remembered was during a break in filming when Hill and fellow actress Tanya Blount performed the gospel classic “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” Ralph, recognising their extraordinary talent, felt that the performance simply had to make it into the final cut of the film, which it did. “And I’m like, ‘Wow, this has got to be in the movie, right?’ And it ends up in the movie,” she recounted with enthusiasm.
Ralph continued her recollections by sharing a memorable conversation with Hill. After a rehearsal, the young actress excitedly proclaimed, “Miss Ralph, I’m gonna have a band, and it’s going to be called The Fugees.” In response, Ralph candidly thought to herself, “Sweetheart, I know you’re going to have a band, but that name you might want to rethink.” Hill would indeed go on to establish The Fugees, alongside Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, producing several hits and earning a Grammy for their album The Score, released in 1996.
The Fugees left a significant mark on the music industry, with their rendition of “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and the track “Ready or Not” becoming anthems of the late 1990s. This success illustrates Hill’s journey from a promising young actress to a globally recognised musical icon.
Sister Act, starring Whoopi Goldberg, debuted in 1992, with its sequel released the following year. The films follow Goldberg’s character, Deloris, a singer who goes into witness protection and finds herself living in a convent. The first film chronicles her comedic adventures in the convent, while the second sees her assisting her nun friends in revitalising a struggling school.
More recently, Ralph has been invited back to The View by co-host Goldberg for a potential cast reunion of Sister Act. This appearance has sparked discussions about a third instalment of the much-loved series, which has been in development for several years.
With such a rich history of collaboration, Ralph’s reflections on her time with Hill not only highlight the raw talent and ambition of a young artist but also celebrate the enduring impact of Sister Act. Fans of the film and the talented individuals involved eagerly await news on the proposed sequel and the possibility of seeing the original cast return to the screen.