Though Leona Lewis got her start on television when she won Season 3 of the U.K.’s “The X-Factor,” it’s on Sony Crackle’s “The Oath” that she’s flexing her acting muscles. After an impressive Broadway debut in 2016 as Grizabella in “Cats,” Lewis now appears on the gang drama as Amber Hall, a doctor and the daughter of a local pastor looking to help her community.
What has your latest role on “The Oath” added to your acting skills?
It’s a whole different experience, being part of this unit and having your scripts to learn and getting into your character and the prep you have to put into it. When I was a child, I went to performing arts school. I always loved acting, and for some reason I thought, I don’t think I can do it. Whereas music is something I always had growing up in my house—I was always surrounded by music: musicians, singers, my dad DJ-ed. Music was always in the household, whereas acting, not so much. This role really allowed me to wet my feet a bit in that space and really work on my character and see what it’s like to be on set.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Anything that’s new or different or not what we’re used to can bring up this feeling of fear and insecurity, and you want to shy away or hide away from that and stick to what’s safe. Often, when you go out of your comfort zone and push yourself to do something and get rid of that fear of “I can’t do this,” you can learn a lot about yourself. Especially for me, this year, I want to do more things that are out of my comfort zone, that push me and challenge me. This role, it was challenging. It was something different for me. In all aspects of life, not just your work, it’s good to challenge yourself, to dig deep and learn about yourself more.
What was your most memorable survival job?
I was a secretary for a mortgage broker at one point. I was a receptionist, I was a waitress. I did all the things because I needed to survive and I needed to pay for studio time. One memorable one for me was I was a secretary for a while—my boss was a frustrated guitarist. I felt like he wanted to be an artist. We really bonded, and instead of actually doing our work, we’d write songs and sit there and vibe on the guitar. That was one of my favorite jobs.
How do you keep yourself from burning out?
I try and focus on one thing at a time. I’m not great at trying to do a million things. Also, having a great team around you who are there to support and push for you is really important. I think it is important to prioritize.
How do you typically prepare for an audition?
I love time. [Laughs] If I can get a script or the sides in a good amount of time, that’s always great, but you don’t always have the luxury of time. I have an incredible [acting coach] I work with, Julie Ariola, who is just amazing; I’ve been working with her for a few years now. I prepare with her and try and dig into the character, and if I have time, it’s great, but if not, I delve in as much as possible.
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