Norm Lewis

In 2014, he was cast as the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera", becoming the first African-American to play the role on Broadway.

My life and work ethic comes from the business world, but I envy those who have been through conservatories because they've had the choice to delve into character study in a way I never did. But at the same time I've heard horror stories about acting teachers at these places who've said to students 'You have no talent and you'll never work'. I don't know if I could have pursued a theater career if I had been told that at a young age.