Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph and Senator Vincent Hughes live and work in different parts of the country, but despite it, have managed to maintain a nearly 19-year marriage, writes Elizabeth Ayoola for Essence.

Ralph is based primarily in Los Angeles, while Hughes is mostly in Harrisburg.

“Vincent and I have been married going on 19 years. We’ve been together 21 years. Abbott is shot in Los Angeles. My husband, as a senator, is always in his capitol [Harrisburg, Penn.], so I don’t know what magic people think we’re gonna do,” said Ralph.

She went on to say that the couple see each other every two weeks on average. 

The only time they’ve been in the same place for an extended period was during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“Keeping this marriage together, you have to be together some time,” she told the Philadelphia Inquirer in a past interview.

Ralph and Hughes started their relationship in 2005. Ralph had to work in L.A. because she wanted to keep her children, who were young at the time, close to their father and her ex-husband, Eric Maurice.

Despite their infrequent quality time together, the couple have been able to do just enough right to make their relationship last.

Read more about Sheryl Lee Ralph’s and Vincent Hughes’ long-distance relationship at Essence.

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