Sheryl Lee Ralph Says Her Son Didn’t Tell Her About His Lead Role inMistletoe & Matrimony(Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Sheryl Lee Ralph with son Etienne Maurice.Photo:Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Etienne Maurice keeps his career moves so under wraps, not even momSheryl Lee Ralphknows what he’s up to!At the 25th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival on Sunday, Oct. 20, theAbbott Elementaryactress, who was being honored with the Artist of Distinction Award, revealed that Maurice didn’t inform her about his lead role inMistletoe & Matrimony.“He kept it from me,” Ralph, 67, told PEOPLE of the milestone gig. “He didn’t even let me know he was doing it.”Referring to Maurice, 32, and his wife Stephanie Wash, whotied the knotin July, she continued, “They got married, they went on their honeymoon. Next thing I know, he was on set shooting a movie.”Ralph also said that she “didn’t give him any advice” in part because she didn’t even know it was happening, but clarified that she was not upset at him.Etienne Maurice and Sheryl Lee Ralph.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic“I’m very, very proud,” she said of Maurice. “I love it when my children choose to stake out on their own.”Set to debut on theOprah Winfrey Network(OWN) on Dec. 14,Mistletoe & Matrimonyfollows the love story of Isaiah Howes (Maurice) and Olivia Morris (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut), perIMDB.“A wedding planner juggles planning her sister’s last-minute Christmas Eve wedding while her ex-fiance unexpectedly arrives, adding chaos to the festive occasion,” an official synopsis reads.Maurice hasn’t said much about the upcoming film, but he did debut its official movie poster, which features himself and Chestnut standing back to back, on hisInstagramearlier this month.He also shared avideoof himself talking in front ofthe PEOPLE story, exclusively revealing the OWN for the Holidays lineup, which includesMistletoe & Matrimony.“I’m over here just thankful, so thankful. I don’t even know what to say,” he said in the clip, later revealing that he was “really going to give up acting” before the movie came along.Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut and Etienne Maurice in ‘Mistletoe & Matrimony’.OWNAlso at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Ralph spoke about how it felt to be honored — and revealed how “proud” she is of both Maurice and her daughter, Ivy Coco, both of whom she shares with her ex-husband, Eric Maurice.“I’m very pleased about it because I say to people all the time, my career has been about the choices that I’ve made, the roles that I have chosen to do, the things that I have chosen to write, understanding that I didn’t just drop out of a coconut tree, and there’s so much more to the world,” she told PEOPLE of the Artist of Distinction Award.“And I’m very happy that my children will now look and say, ‘Yeah, that’s my mother,’” she continued. “My parents up in heaven are looking down saying, ‘Yes, my daughter is making me proud.’ And my community, when they see my name on a project, they say, ‘I want to see that.’ So I’m very proud and very honored and I’m thrilled.”Ralph also noted thatMistletoe & Matrimonyand Maurice’s other work are a continuation of what she has built, adding, “I’m very proud of him because that’s all part of the legacy.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Mistletoe & Matrimonywill premiere Saturday, Dec. 14 on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

Etienne Maurice keeps his career moves so under wraps, not even momSheryl Lee Ralphknows what he’s up to!

At the 25th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival on Sunday, Oct. 20, theAbbott Elementaryactress, who was being honored with the Artist of Distinction Award, revealed that Maurice didn’t inform her about his lead role inMistletoe & Matrimony.

“He kept it from me,” Ralph, 67, told PEOPLE of the milestone gig. “He didn’t even let me know he was doing it.”

Referring to Maurice, 32, and his wife Stephanie Wash, whotied the knotin July, she continued, “They got married, they went on their honeymoon. Next thing I know, he was on set shooting a movie.”

Ralph also said that she “didn’t give him any advice” in part because she didn’t even know it was happening, but clarified that she was not upset at him.

Etienne Maurice and Sheryl Lee Ralph.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

“I’m very, very proud,” she said of Maurice. “I love it when my children choose to stake out on their own.”

Set to debut on theOprah Winfrey Network(OWN) on Dec. 14,Mistletoe & Matrimonyfollows the love story of Isaiah Howes (Maurice) and Olivia Morris (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut), perIMDB.

“A wedding planner juggles planning her sister’s last-minute Christmas Eve wedding while her ex-fiance unexpectedly arrives, adding chaos to the festive occasion,” an official synopsis reads.

Maurice hasn’t said much about the upcoming film, but he did debut its official movie poster, which features himself and Chestnut standing back to back, on hisInstagramearlier this month.

He also shared avideoof himself talking in front ofthe PEOPLE story, exclusively revealing the OWN for the Holidays lineup, which includesMistletoe & Matrimony.

“I’m over here just thankful, so thankful. I don’t even know what to say,” he said in the clip, later revealing that he was “really going to give up acting” before the movie came along.

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut and Etienne Maurice in ‘Mistletoe & Matrimony’.OWN

OWN

Also at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Ralph spoke about how it felt to be honored — and revealed how “proud” she is of both Maurice and her daughter, Ivy Coco, both of whom she shares with her ex-husband, Eric Maurice.

“I’m very pleased about it because I say to people all the time, my career has been about the choices that I’ve made, the roles that I have chosen to do, the things that I have chosen to write, understanding that I didn’t just drop out of a coconut tree, and there’s so much more to the world,” she told PEOPLE of the Artist of Distinction Award.

“And I’m very happy that my children will now look and say, ‘Yeah, that’s my mother,’” she continued. “My parents up in heaven are looking down saying, ‘Yes, my daughter is making me proud.’ And my community, when they see my name on a project, they say, ‘I want to see that.’ So I’m very proud and very honored and I’m thrilled.”

Ralph also noted thatMistletoe & Matrimonyand Maurice’s other work are a continuation of what she has built, adding, “I’m very proud of him because that’s all part of the legacy.”

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

Mistletoe & Matrimonywill premiere Saturday, Dec. 14 on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

source: people.com