Papaya Ex shines in Nollywood with debut film The Night Market

Papaya Ex stars in her Nollywood debut, The Night Market, thanking fans for their support and sharing her journey into acting

Digital influencer Papaya Ex has praised her fans for propelling her rise and supporting her projects, including her Nollywood debut, The Night Market, now streaming on YouTube.

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Featuring a star-studded cast including Tony Umeh, Tina Mba, Chidi Dike, Sydney Talker, Sexy Steel, MC Lively, and others, the film marks a pivotal moment in Papaya Ex’s evolving creative journey.

Speaking on her initial discovery of her acting talent, Papaya Ex said the desire had quietly grown over the years.

“Honestly, acting has been something I’ve wanted for a long time. I just kept it to myself because I didn’t want to rush it,” she said.

Audience reactions to her online skits further encouraged her: “Whenever I played small characters online, people would say, ‘You actually act well o’, and it made me pay attention to that side of me.”

The turning point came on her first professional film set. “The day I stepped on a real set and felt completely at home, I said, ‘Okay, this thing is really in me.’ That was when I knew,” she recalled.

Papaya Ex said transitioning from fast-paced content creation to acting has reshaped her creativity.

“Content creation is quick, you get an idea, film it, move on. Acting is deeper. You have to understand the character, feel their emotions, and carry their story,” she explained.

She added that the process has helped her slow down, connect more deeply, and unlock a “new level of creativity.”

She expressed a strong preference for roles with emotional depth and cultural richness.

“I love characters that challenge me and stories that carry emotion, culture, mystery and something people will watch and say, ‘This one touched me,’” she said.

Papaya Ex also credited her online community for amplifying her projects.

“When I post a project, the support is always loud, people share it, talk about it, hype it, and give it life. It brings attention to whatever I’m working on and helps the project grow faster,” she said.

Addressing critics of influencer-led acting careers, she emphasised her commitment to the craft.

“I’m putting in the work. I’m learning, training, and taking this career seriously. I didn’t enter acting because of fame. I entered because it’s something I truly love,” she said.

She added that acting requires sacrifice, but affirmed that the journey is worthwhile.

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“Starting something new comes with fear, but I still chose it because the dream means so much to me. And honestly, it’s worth it,” Papaya Ex concluded.