 He completed a social science degree at Glasgow College of Technology (now Glasgow Caledonian University), graduating with honours in 1983.Encouraged by his high school English teacher, Lewis read voraciously and eventually decided to pursue a career as an actor.In 1979, Lewis starred in writer Freddy Anderson's Fringe First Award-winning play "Krassivy", which was based upon the life of Socialist school teacher John Maclean.