Tony- and Grammy-winning actor, singer and author Leslie Odom Jr. came to UMass Boston Feb. 12 for the annual SAEC x The Mass Media Speaker Series, an hour-long conversation filled with advice for college students, reflections on his career in the arts and even a brief moment of song.
Odom is most known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” a performance that earned him a Tony Award. He has since appeared in films including “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and “One Night in Miami … ,” building a career that spans stage and screen.
“I want to make audiences cry, but above all to be goofy and make them laugh first,” he said.
Throughout the event, Odom returned to the idea of preparation meeting opportunity. He encouraged students to “walk toward the thing you love,” adding that whatever that thing may be, it deserves their full passion and attention. When opportunity comes close enough, you have to be ready to take that chance.
Reflecting on his own path, Odom shared that he worked professionally before college and sees higher education as a “safe training ground” to explore, make mistakes and have fun. he described his early involvement in the arts through choir, school plays and a dance scholarship in high school. At 17, he began performing on Broadway after auditioning for the musical “Rent,” launching a career that would eventually redefine his life.
When “Rent” first crossed his path, Odom said he felt an immediate connection to its message and its power. That experience, he explained, shaped how he thought about what theater could do. Years later, his work in “Hamilton” would cement his place in Broadway history. He credited the show’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, for his relentless dedication, noting that “Hamilton” was six years in the making.
Odom also spoke about the responsibility that comes with portraying real people. When preparing for “One Night in Miami … ” in which he played singer Sam Cooke, he described the role as daunting, particularly because of Cooke’s distinctive voice and legacy. Research, he said, is always necessary when stepping into the life of a real person.
He emphasized the importance of understanding a character’s purpose in any project. “Who is this person? Why is he there?” he said, describing the questions that guide his approach. While filming “One Night in Miami … ,” he realized he was exactly where he needed to be. The film, adapted from a stage play, required long, dialogue-heavy scenes. An Academy Award nomination followed, something Odom said he never saw coming.
Beyond individual roles, Odom spoke candidly about his larger mission as an artist.
“I’m meant to leave truthful renderings of Black life,” he said, adding that representation matters both on screen and in everyday life.
Creative freedom has also marked his recent work. In “Glass Onion,” he said he enjoyed the opportunity to stretch in a different direction. He chose to play the role as a Muslim character in order to expand representation for Black Muslims, a group he noted is rarely depicted in mainstream media.
That commitment to representation shaped some of his advice specifically for Black students in the audience.
“Be intentional about the reflection of yourself that you curate,” he said. “Know who you are and protect your integrity, even when allowing yourself to be led by mentors and collaborators.”
He stressed the importance of relationships, reminding students that tuition is not only paying for classes but also for the connections they build. Stay in touch, he urged. Classmates can become collaborators. He recalled being classmates with Josh Gad long before their careers took off.
Odom closed with a simple yet resonant message: Preparation speaks to desire. Success, he suggested, is rarely accidental. It is built in rehearsal rooms, classrooms and quiet moments of study.
“If there is a room that makes you feel like the best version of yourself, stay in that room,” Odom said. “And try to find rooms that make you feel that way.”
