[3][4][5][6] Lewis was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts.

[7] She made her Broadway debut at 18 years old in the original cast of Dreamgirls, directed by Michael Bennett, where she replaced Sheila Ellis in the role of Edna Burk and was the understudy of Effie Melody White played by Jennifer Holliday.

[8] She followed this serving as an understudy for Nell Carter in the revival of Ain't Misbehavin'.

[9] In 2019 Lewis played the recurring role of Tonya on the 2019 follow-up of NBC television series Mad About You.

During her career Lewis also starred in films and television series, including recurring roles in Mad About You, The Passage, The Blacklist, and Law & Order.