Digital land influencer, Papaya Ex, has lauded fans for powering her rise and helping her projects attain massive visibility, including her debut Nollywood film, The Night Market, which is now streaming on YouTube.
Featuring a star-studded cast like Tony Umeh, Tina Mba, Chidi Dike, Sydney Talker, Sexy Steel, Chichi (BBN), MC Lively, Pinki Debbie, James Brown, Hermes, Akeem Ogara, and Rosemary Afuwape, The Night Market marks a watershed moment in the riveting, entertaining and evolving creative odyssey of Papaya Ex.
Speaking on when she initially realised she had the gift for acting, Papaya Ex said that the desire had been silently growing for 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.
Papaya Ex further said audience reactions to her skits encouraged her: “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.”
The turning point, she recalled, came on her first real 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.”
Moving from fast-paced content creation to the depth of acting, she said, has reshaped her creativity in unexpected ways.
“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.
According to her, the process has made her slow down, connect more deeply, and unlock “a new level of creativity.” As she defines her path in Nollywood, Papaya Ex says she is most drawn to emotional and culturally rich stories.
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“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.
“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 expressed with gratitude.
Addressing critics who believe influencers often bypass traditional acting routes, the social media influencer responded:
“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.
“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 said. Still, she insists the journey is meaningful: “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,” added Papaya Ex.
