Papaya Ex Debuts in Nollywood with ‘The Night Market’

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Digital land influencer and fast-rising actress, Papaya Ex, has expressed deep appreciation to her fans for contributing immensely to her success and helping her creative projects gain widespread attention—especially her debut Nollywood film, The Night Market, which is currently available for streaming on YouTube.

The movie, which features an impressive lineup of industry favourites such as Tony Umeh, Tina Mba, Chidi Dike, Sydney Talker, Sexy Steel, Chichi (BBN), MC Lively, Pinki Debbie, James Brown, Hermes, Akeem Ogara, and Rosemary Afuwape, marks a significant milestone in Papaya Ex’s transition from online content creation to mainstream acting. She described the film as an important step in her evolving artistic journey.

Reflecting on when she first discovered her passion for acting, Papaya Ex revealed that the desire had been quietly growing long before she ever stepped on a movie set. “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. According to her, even though she did not openly pursue the craft initially, the passion was always alive beneath the surface.

She added that feedback from her online skits helped her recognise her potential. “Anytime I played small characters online, people would say, ‘You actually act well o’, and it made me pay attention to that side of me,” she shared. Those remarks gradually planted the seed that she could thrive in Nollywood.

Her true turning point, however, came the moment she stepped onto a full film set for the first time. The experience, she said, felt natural and familiar. “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.”

Transitioning from short-form content creation to more demanding film roles has been a transformative experience for her. While content creation is fast-paced and spontaneous, acting has pushed her to connect more deeply with storytelling. “It has stretched me a lot. 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. This new artistic shift, she noted, has required her to be more intentional and reflective in her creative process. The slower pace, she said, has helped her unlock “a new level of creativity.”

As she navigates Nollywood, Papaya Ex says she is drawn to roles that carry emotional weight and cultural depth. “I love roles that have depth. Stories that carry emotion, culture, mystery — something people will watch and say, ‘This one touched me.’ I enjoy characters that challenge me and show a different side of me. Anything that pushes me to grow, I’m excited for it.”

She also credited her fan base for amplifying her success and giving her work greater reach. Her online community, she said, has been a driving force behind her projects gaining momentum. “My online community has helped me a lot. 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. It’s not just followers; it’s real support, and I don’t take it for granted,” she noted with gratitude.

Responding to critics who accuse influencers of skipping the traditional ladder into Nollywood, Papaya Ex insisted that her focus remains on improving her craft rather than defending herself. “People will always talk. But one thing about me is that 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. So instead of arguing or explaining myself everywhere, I prefer to let the work speak for me.”

She acknowledged that the acting journey comes with significant demands but said she embraces the sacrifice. “Sacrifice. Acting takes time, energy, emotions — sometimes even your peace. You give up comfort, you give up sleep, you push yourself in ways you didn’t expect,” she explained. Despite these challenges, Papaya Ex affirmed that the process is deeply rewarding. “Starting something new also comes with fear, but I still chose it because the dream means so much to me. And honestly, it’s worth it,” she added.

See movie below…