When you hear the name Leslie Odom Jr., your brain probably goes straight to that iconic yellow waistcoat and the sharp, calculating gaze of Aaron Burr in Hamilton. He’s a powerhouse. But for a lot of fans, the woman by his side on the red carpet is just "Leslie Odom Jr wife."
Honestly? That is a massive undersell.
Nicolette Robinson isn’t just a "plus one." She is a history-making Broadway lead, a television mainstay, and half of a creative partnership that basically keeps the theater world spinning. If you think she’s just there to cheer from the wings, you’ve missed the best part of the story.
The Meet-Cute That Almost Didn't Happen
Most Hollywood romances start at a glitzy party or through a high-end dating app. Theirs started in a rehearsal room in 2008, and it wasn't exactly love at first sight.
Nicolette was a student at UCLA when she auditioned for a production of Once on This Island at the Reprise Theatre Company. Leslie was actually the assistant director for the show, working under the legendary Billy Porter.
Here’s the thing: Nicolette didn't even get the part she wanted initially. She lost out on the lead role of Ti Moune. But as fate (or theater luck) would have it, a cast member got sick, and Nicolette was called in to fill a different role.
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Leslie was the guy tasked with teaching her the blocking. Basically, he had to make sure she didn't walk into any furniture. They spent hours together in that "work" capacity before things turned romantic.
They didn't start dating until the show actually ended. Nicolette has joked in interviews that she wasn't even sure their first date was a date until Leslie finally kissed her at the end of the night.
They eventually tied the knot in December 2012. It was a Los Angeles wedding that Leslie later described to People as being "worth every penny" because of the energy of having all their people in one room.
Nicolette Robinson: A Powerhouse in Her Own Right
While Leslie was becoming a household name, Nicolette was busy breaking glass ceilings. In 2018, she made her Broadway debut in Waitress.
This wasn't just any debut.
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She was the first Black woman to play the lead role of Jenna. Think about that for a second. In a show that had already been a massive hit, she was the one to finally bring that specific representation to the diner.
She was also the first "real-life mom" to play the role on Broadway. At the time, she was balancing the grueling schedule of eight shows a week while raising their daughter, Lucille Ruby, who was born in 2017.
Beyond the stage, you've probably seen her on your TV screen and didn't even realize it:
- She played Jane in the hit Showtime series The Affair.
- She had a recurring role as Tara Goodwin on Chicago Med.
- She starred in the limited series Love in the Time of Corona—which she actually filmed with Leslie during the 2020 lockdowns.
In 2020, she also appeared in the film One Night in Miami, playing Barbara Cooke. Interestingly, she stepped into that role because the original actress couldn't make it due to pandemic travel restrictions. Leslie told Regina King, the director, "I happen to live with one of the greatest actresses you'll find," and the rest is history.
Building a Legacy and Breaking Cycles
Life isn't all Tony Awards and red carpets. The couple has been very open about the "grind" years. Before Hamilton blew up, Nicolette mentioned they once had to borrow money from her parents just to cover rent in New York.
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That groundedness shows up in how they’re raising their kids. After Lucille came Able Phineas, born in March 2021.
The name "Able" is a twist on the biblical Abel, and "Phineas" has Hebrew roots (Pinchas). They seem deeply intentional about everything—from the names they choose to the way they talk about parenting.
In a recent 2025 appearance on Dr. Becky’s Good Inside podcast, the couple got real about "breaking cycles." They talked about navigating success without losing their connection and how they handle the "spirited" nature of their kids. It’s not just PR fluff; they’re actually doing the work.
What You Should Take Away
Nicolette Robinson is a reminder that being a "celebrity spouse" doesn't mean shrinking yourself. She is a producer (she co-produced Purlie Victorious on Broadway), a recording artist, and a pioneer for Black women in musical theater.
If you want to support her work, here is how you can actually engage with what she’s doing:
- Watch "One Night in Miami": Her performance is subtle but vital to the emotional weight of the film.
- Listen to her "Waitress" recordings: Even if you didn't see her live, her rendition of "She Used to Be Mine" is legendary in theater circles.
- Check out their children's book: They co-authored I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know, which is a beautiful look at their family dynamic.
Stop thinking of her as just Leslie Odom Jr wife. She’s a titan in the industry who just happens to be married to another one.