VIDEO: HAMILTON's Javier Munoz Talks Taking on Lead Role: 'Nervous Means That I Doubt Myself'

Javier Muñoz, Lin-Manuel Miranda's former alternate in the Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton, stepped into the title role last night, July 11 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The actor stopped by NBC's TODAY to discuss taking on the legendary, historical figure.

"Nervous means that I doubt myself," explained Muñoz to TODAY's Hoda Kotb. Asked what he does to placate disappointed fans who are expecting to see Lin-Manuel Miranda in the starring role, the actor explains, "I open my mouth and I sing!" Check out the appearance below!

Mr. Muñoz has been the Hamilton alternate dating back to the musical's early development and debut at The Public Theatre in January 2015, as well as throughout the Broadway engagement. He previously took over the role of Usnavi - again, replacing Mr. Miranda - in the latter's Tony-winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.

He will perform the role of Alexander Hamilton seven performances a week. Mr. Muñoz's alternate, who will perform the role once a week as Mr. Muñoz has done, will be announced at a later date along with the alternate's performance schedule.

Mr. Muñoz's other stage credits include the title role of VENICE in the musical at Center Theatre Group, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, a rock opera, at Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, DC, and RICHARD III and INTO THE WOODS at Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

HAMILTON recently won 11 TONY AWARDS including Best Musical, Score, Book of a Musical, Direction of a Musical, Choreography and Orchestrations. With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, the musical is based on Ron Chernow's biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.