Lisa Ann Walter Reveals Which Abbott Elementary Costar She'd 'Trust' to Set Her Up on Dates (Exclusive)

Lisa Ann Walter may be ready to find love at work, but only if Sheryl Lee Ralph is calling the shots.

The actress, who is leading Centrum’s menopause support campaign, tells PEOPLE that she trusts her Abbott Elementary costar's judgment because she sees similarities in their personalities and careers.

"I think that she's aware of what is necessary to partner with an accomplished strong woman because she is one," Walter says. "So, yeah, I would trust her absolutely."

Ralph, who plays veteran kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard on Abbott, got her start on the stage, earning a Tony nomination for her role in Dreamgirls in 1982. After a series of successful movie and TV appearances, Ralph became known for playing Deidre "Dee" Mitchell in the '90s comedy Moesha.

Walter, who plays tough second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti, started her career doing stand-up comedy and eventually moved into sitcoms and comedy films. Her star started to rise when she played Chessy, the beloved housekeeper, in 1998's The Parent Trap, after which she worked on a few reality TV shows and hosted her own radio show.

Now, though, both Walter and Ralph are becoming household names, acting at the center of a fresh and talented Emmy-winning ensemble cast in Abbott Elementary.

"We worked our whole three decades plus long careers and then became big hits at this stage of our lives," Walter s -

Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender Sp,...

ays. "Nothing is a guarantee about what you can do or when you should do it or what you should try."

The actress' career parallels and adoring on- and off-screen dynamic — Ralph most recently showed up with flowers to Walter's July 19 comedy show — have made them fan favorites. And, according to Walter, becoming close friends has given her a glimpse into the sweetness of Ralph's real-life love.

Walter feels she can count on Ralph to make good dating suggestions because of her own marriage to Senator Vincent Hughes, whom she wed in 2005. 

"Sheryl has a beautiful family and a beautiful support system in her entire family," Walter explains. "Her husband is a doll and a senator from Pennsylvania. He's very smart and she has a great relationship with him."

As the costars gear up for the Oct. 9 premiere of Abbott season 4, Ralph has plenty of time to set Walter up, something the SAG Award winner says she is still waiting for.

"So far she hasn't come up with anybody," Walter says, teasing, "Come on, Sheryl. Get on it."

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Abbott Elementary season 4 will premiere Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Previous seasons can be streamed on Hulu.

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