Acting Made Me Respect Actors More – Ayra Starr on Her Film Debut

Kehinde Adeleye

Grammy-nominated Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has expressed her excitement about making her acting debut in the American fantasy film Children of Blood and Bone.

In a recent interview with CBS, Starr shared her experience on set, saying it pushed her to work harder and be more disciplined with time, a shift from the more flexible nature of the music industry.

She added that the experience gave her a deeper appreciation for the dedication and effort actors put into their craft.

She said, “It [Children of Blood and Bone] is my first movie ever. You know, I’m used to being a singer and diva on set, but this one with the movie is like, it’s not about you. You’ve to be on set on time. So, it made me get used to military time and working hard. I respect actors so much more now. Their stamina is impeccable.

“Acting is something I have always wanted to do. I love music, but I’ve always loved acting. I’ve always been shy when it comes t9 acting. But this is the first time in my life that I’ve been on camera and I’m not singing. It was amazing. I learned so much from everyone, not just the greats.”

The film is based on Children of Blood and Bone, the bestselling novel by Nigerian-American author Tomi Adeyemi.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the movie features a star-studded cast including Damson Idris, Tosin Cole, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis, and Thuso Mbedu.

Paramount Pictures is set to release the film on January 15, 2027.