“It’s about trusting life has a funny way of leading you on the path you’re meant to be on and to kind of embrace that,” Charlot Daysh echoes with steadiness. “The film serves as a reminder to go after what you want, even though you’re scared, because everything you want is on the other side of fear.”

It’s a philosophy that is at the heart of her new film, Finding Odera; the film follows Olisa (Chris Okagbue) on an impossible journey to reunite with his childhood sweetheart, Odera. After she leaves Nigeria for Toronto as a teenager, she and Olisa write to each other into adulthood, until one day Odera stops responding. Unable to find peace in his life, Olisa takes what little information he has and travels to Toronto to look for her. He has no contacts, no friends, and he’s never even been to Canada, but he risks it all to find her. His search crosses paths with Aria (Daysh), a determined documentarian whose curiosity is piqued by his story. She offers to help him track Odera down—on the condition that she can document his journey.

What makes Olisa’s journey to Aria so compelling is that the film is not afraid to take itself seriously in its message. Olisa is haunted by what could have been, he is stuck in the past, unable to build a good life for himself. “To some extent, we sometimes have tendencies to put people on pedestals and we can create fantasies about them in our minds.” Daysh reflects “This is a film that really highlights that if life steers us in a different direction, it is because something else was meant for us and it can be even better than what we initially hoped for.” Aria embodies this theme as she gives Olisa a new perspective. The closer they get to finding Odera, the more he is centered in reality with Aria. Daysh’s performance as the romantic co-lead made me feel the nostalgia for the days when romantic films were not afraid to be dramatic and depict love as a complicated yet rewarding journey. For Aria, until she meets Olisa, she doesn’t have anyone in her life that sees her for who she is. Similar to her, Olisa has built his life around an idea and can’t see his true self or potential. In Finding Odera, love is a mirror with two faces and no expectations.

Becoming Aria was an exciting process, as Daysh was selected specifically for the role. “I love when that happens!” she smiles. “When I read the script, I was very drawn to Aria. I think she is very passionate, curious and has a good heart. One of my favourite scenes from the movie is when she and Olisa have that heart-to-heart. In that moment when they have that talk, she opens herself up to him. Their connection and understanding of each other deepens.” What is most interesting about Daysh is her process of becoming the character she is cast for. Although new to the Toronto film industry, she had a lucrative career in Norway first, starring in Hotel Cæsar, Typisk deg med Petter Schjerven, and Bjerga Hotell. For her, crafting a character is a spiritual process.

“I read the script and take notes. I aim to get into the mindset of the character and understand what they are thinking because it’s the thoughts that evoke the emotions in us. I also want to know their backstory—what led them to this moment? What is it they want versus what they need? I speak with the directors and make a list of questions that help me make a character analysis that I like to write answers to, and then I meditate on it.” For Daysh, meditation is crucial to her performances. “I meditate every day. Because in general it is so good for you and I use it in different ways—I can meditate on a character. It’s beautiful what it can do for you. It almost feels like you are downloading a character. When you quiet the mind, the soul speaks with so much clarity.”

Speaking of clarity, I couldn’t help but think that somehow art was imitating life while speaking with Daysh. She hadn’t planned on staying in Toronto long. While studying in Australia, she met many Canadians who impressed her with their kindness. “People are so nice and so polite,” she smiles. “I looked into the industry and realised how big it was. I flew here and met with an agent and decided to do some projects and that was supposed to be it.” But, similar to her co-lead’s fate, life had other plans.“I didn’t mean to be here permanently!” she laughs. “But I ended up being really busy here and loving it, so I kept extending it. I also met my husband here, so he is the main reason I am settling down in Canada.”

Her instinct to stay paid off—she’s been booked and busy ever since. This year, she earned herself a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Lead Performer for her film Cry Of Silence. Critics hailed her portrayal of Maggie Klassen as both mesmerizing and haunting. When asked how she feels about the achievement, the reality of it is still sinking in. “It feels incredible. It’s something one can only hope for, and I feel very, very grateful.”

Daysh is a dynamic performer and it’s hard as a viewer not to get lost in her portrayal of Aria—especially when she shares the screen with Okagbue. Together, they ignite the screen with a magnetic chemistry that pulses through every scene they share. That connection was nurtured by the constant support of Okagbue, which Daysh describes as deeply collaborative. “We got along so well. He was so professional, passionate and respectful. We talked a lot about how to make each scene the best they could be and got to know each other. We became good friends and had so much fun on set.” The sense of fun extended well beyond the camera. During filming, Daysh was introduced to the vibrant inner workings of a Nigerian film set—an experience she recalls with pure joy. “This was the first time I was on a Nigerian film set, and I got to taste a piece of Nollywood,” she laughs. “It was a very lively set and we had so much fun; the day started with me getting my hair and makeup done to some really groovy Nigerian beats—and you have to move, you can’t not dance. It just really boosted the energy on set,” she says. “There was a lot of laughter. We had a genuinely good time.”

At this point in our interview, I had to ask about the catering—Nigeria is known for having some of the best foods in the world; dishes like jollof rice, egusi soup, suya and puff-puff aren’t just meals, they are expressions of heritage. So I had to know: was she eating good in between scenes? “I was eating good on set! I ate a lot of Nigerian food and I liked it. Jollof was great. There is a scene in the film where Aria learns to make it and it was fun to learn.”

Photo by Gold Sparrow

Much like her on-screen character, Daysh presents a more polished, grounded version of Aria’s driven nature. It is obvious why she is such an accomplished actress—her aura exudes an open-heartedness that instinctively draws people in. While playing Aria, she felt a connection to her confidence and spirit. “I definitely saw pieces of me in her. She is very creative and curious and not afraid to push a little extra. I resonated with all those parts of her so I tried to apply a little bit of myself in her.”

And just as she is compelling as the character she plays, Daysh is a romantic at heart. There are moments in the film where Olisa’s expectations of Odera were too much—he borders on fixation. Throughout the film, Aria gently nudges him towards acceptance and emotional growth. She encourages him to release the past and open himself to a new future—a message Daysh deeply aligns with. “Just because it was a childhood sweetheart doesn’t mean that it wasn’t beautiful and right at the moment,” she says. “But a change of perspective is needed. Olisa is searching for someone, but he ends up finding pieces of himself and getting something better than he hoped for. He should see what happened in his childhood as happening for a specific reason, so it could lead him to who was meant for him.” For Daysh, this advice is not only reserved for fictional reprieve; she believes we can all gain happiness from this perspective. “It was important for him [Olisa] to accept what was not meant for him, and you can move past something like that. I always love thinking about, when people are looking for love, that the person you are looking for is also looking for you. You are somebody’s dream man or woman. That was what Aria was trying to show him. She knew how amazing he was and how lucky any woman would be to have him.”

As her stardom continues to rise, Daysh remains drawn to roles that explore the nuance of human connection. She gravitates towards scripts with emotional depth and characters that challenge her. “I would love to do more romance. I am a hopeless romantic—I love that heartwarming aspect of it. But it’s fun to have contrast. I’d love to do a thriller or something a little bit darker in that way because it challenges different sides of you as an actor. I think it’s helpful to be able to explore a lot of different methods of acting.”

When asked what kind of project she dreams of doing next, she pauses thoughtfully. “I would love to do one of those classic Christmas movies. I just love Christmas and I love love, so the two of them together could be a nice experience.” And while the specifics of her next project remain under wraps, I was able to get her to spill a little tea. “I will be doing a show called Noose, The Hangman’s Tale. It’s a period piece, docu-drama, so I am excited to start that.”

With her feet planted firmly in Canada and her heart wide open to the world, she’s embracing each chapter with grace and curiosity. Daysh admits she is spreading her creative wings into the writer’s sphere. “I’m writing my first feature. It’s a romantic comedy. Writing is something I’ve discovered I really love. It’s right for me, so I will continue doing that alongside acting.” Whether on screen or behind the page, Charlot Daysh is a storyteller with a voice that is both wise and luminous. And as she carves her path through film, television, and now writing, one thing is clear—she’s not just following her passion; she’s shaping it into something unforgettable.