Leslie Odom Jr. is giving it his best shot
“Forgive me,” says Leslie Odom Jr. during a recent phone interview, “my brain isn’t as fast as it can be, because of the sleep deprivation.” Understandable, of course: Odom and his wife, actress Nicolette Robinson, had their first child, a daughter, in April. It is, Odom says, the first time he’s voluntarily taken time off in his career. “Usually as a performer, you have plenty of time off, but it’s never by choice.”
Having been catapulted into gravity-defying fame by his Tony-winning portrayal of Aaron Burr in the smash musical “Hamilton,” Odom, who left the show’s cast last July, now has the world watching his next moves. He will appear in Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” set for release in November. Until then, he plans to spend much of his time giving symphony performances, including two with the Boston Pops this week. He’ll perform songs from “Hamilton” and selections from his self-titled 2016 album, a collection of elegantly restrained jazz numbers. He’ll also join the Pops at the July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular.
Odom spoke to the Globe about how he got into the room where it happened and what comes next.
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