Bette Midler ‘Really Bonded’ with Sheryl Lee Ralph, Says She’s ‘Long’ Been a Fan of Fabulous Four Costar (Exclusive)

Broadway legends Bette Midler and Sheryl Lee Ralph formed a friendship far from the lights of New York’s theater district.

Midler, 78, tells PEOPLE she “really bonded” with Ralph, 67, while filming The Fabulous Four in Savannah, Ga., since they both have roots performing for a live audience. 

“We both come from the stage. I've been a fan of hers for a long, long time, ever since Dreamgirls,” Midler says, referring to Ralph’s turn as Deena Jones in the original 1981 production of the Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen musical about the breakup of a 1960s girl group. (Beyoncé played the role of Jones in the 2006 film adaptation.) Ralph also appeared in shows Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wicked.

The “Wind Beneath My Wings” singer made her Broadway debut in 1966 in the original production of Fiddler on the Roof. She returned to the Great White Way several times through the years, with special concert shows like 1973’s Bette Midler (for which she won a special Tony Award) and the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! (for which she won the Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical).

Midler hopes to costar with Ralph again soon, it seems. Earlier this year, Midler suggested a role for herself on the ABC comedy Abbott Elementary. Ralph won an Emmy in 2022 for her role as kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard.  

“Since I’m now using this website to pitch myself on TV shows, I would also like to play Melissa Schemmenti’s mother on Abbott Elementary. If you see [creator and star] Quinta Brunson, please tell her,” Midler wrote on X. Schemmenti is a teacher played by The Parent Trap star Lisa Ann Walter.

And though Midler got particularly close with Ralph while making The Fabulous Four, she loved working with costars Susan Sarandon and Megan Mullally, too.

“It was six weeks in Savannah, which was absolutely devastatingly beautiful, with these really great comics. I can't say enough about them. I thought they were all superb,” Midler continues. "I knew them, I loved them, I admired their work.”

In the comedy, Midler stars as Marilyn, a self-involved widow who, after a whirlwind romance, gets engaged again. Her longtime friends (played by Ralph, Sarandon and Mullally) all travel to Key West, Fla., for the wedding. The high-stress trip tests some of their bonds.

The movie also stars Bruce Greenwood — and Midler’s own daughter, Sophie von Haselberg, who plays Marilyn’s daughter in the film.

“That was so special. That was a great weekend,” Midler says of having von Haselberg on set. “You live for those weekends when you can see her all by yourself and you can go out, have lunch, have dinner, talk fashion, talk makeup, have fun.”

The Fabulous Four is in theaters Friday, July 26.