What is Yvonne Orji Doing Now? Life After ‘Molly’ from HBO’s ‘Insecure’

If you were once a superfan of HBO’s Insecure, then you’re probably wondering… what is Yvonne Orji doing now? When the phenomenon wrapped in 2021, it wasn’t just the end of a groundbreaking series. It felt like a goodbye to one of the TV world’s most iconic homegirls, Molly Carter.

Orji killed that Emmy-nominated role for five seasons straight, giving us a quotable character who still lives in social media’s ‘Book of Memes’ today. Created by filmmaker Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore (The Bernie Mac Show), Insecure was a comedy-drama that followed the lives of two Black female protagonists, Issa (played by Rae) and Molly, who Orji instantly made a fan favorite upon its 2016 debut. Having been best friends since college, the controversial program offered viewers a raw depiction of the ladies’ (seemingly) unbreakable bond, the challenges that came with it, and their navigation through life, love, and everything in between. 

Insecure’s candid portrayal of young, African-American women journeying through the motions of millennial experiences in relationships and even career was monumental. So much so that, years later (despite their ups and downs), Issa and Molly are still deemed a duo we’ll never forget.

Of the pair, Molly was known as the fun and free-spirited one, often finding herself in much chaos romantically and professionally. Still, Molly’s complicated day-to-day only fueled the audience’s need to tune in… every episode.

Orji’s life after Insecure has been anything but quiet. Here are some highlights the actress/comedienne has had since that breakout run. 

What is Yvonne Orji Doing Now? A Brief Overview of Our Forever Bestie’s Achievements

From Scene-Stealer to Stand-Up Star

While we might know Orji for her acting chops, she never strayed too far from her true love: comedy. The Maryland-raised entertainer’s first-ever HBO special, Momma, I Made It!, gave us belly laughs and a deeper look into her Nigerian-American upbringing. Released in 2020, Orji gave us a travel documentary and stand-up all in one, as the hour-long production featured clips of her visit back to her West African roots in Nigeria. Hilarious and heartfelt, Momma, I Made It! was recorded before a live audience at D.C.’s Howard Theatre.

Orji’s second funnywoman film, A Whole Me, dropped in 2022–a blend of sharp humor and personal storytelling. In the on-stage segment, she showcased her inner dialogue on dating, adulting, and more. Reviewers recognized Orji’s “no-holds-barred” performance as a “therapy session” for her and the crowd.

Bamboozled by Jesus: A Testimony with a Twist

In 2021, Orji added author to her résumé with the unveiling of her book, Bamboozled by Jesus: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams. The memoir became an instant treasure for those chasing their purpose and finding themselves in a season of asking God, “Wyd?”

The best-seller serves up a sermon and a pep talk, as it’s spiritually fueled and wrapped in humor and Jesus-girl realness. Through the publication, Orji pulls back the curtain on her career, her wait for love, and her faith journey, dishing out hard truths with a side of laughter. It feels like she’s talking to you, not at you… like a wise big sister who prays hard and plays harder.

Lights, Camera, Creator Mode Activated

Behind the scenes, this queen’s been leveling up. The grind hasn’t stopped… and neither has the green! Aside from the 2021 report of her First Gen project (an autobiographical drama in conjunction with Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo) underway, it was announced that Orji locked in a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television in 2023. According to Deadline, she would develop “scripted drama and comedy series for cable and streaming” under the two-year contractual agreement.

In April 2024, Orji was said to be adapting author Yaa Gyasi’s novel, Transcendent Kingdom, into a film under the arrangement. The move was made in continuation of her pursuit to uplift African stories through her platform.

She wrote in her Instagram caption when sharing the news, “To execs and networks–please don’t sleep on African stories. They are worthy to be told. They were worthy to be INVESTED in. And there IS a GLOBAL audience for them. BANK ON US!”

Additionally, Orji has kept herself relevant on-screen. In 2021, she was a part of the starring cast in Vacation Friends (alongside Lil Rel Howery, John Cena, and Lynn Whitfield, among others), which had a follow-up in 2023. 2022 also saw Orji in The Blackening and The Wonder Years, along with taking on voice acting roles in Velma and My Dad the Bounty Hunter in 2023/2024. She’s even had her fair share of a slew of hosting gigs, such as Yearly Departed (2021), Hertz’s Let’s Go Show (2023), and Off The Script With The Hollywood Reporter (2023/2024).

In 2025, she’s gearing up for a spot in Netflix’s forthcoming endeavor The Wrong Paris, and her latest executive producing effort is for The Fisherman (via her In & Thru imprint).

Faith, First and Always

So… what is Yvonne Orji doing now? Clearly, still winning! No matter how many red carpets Orji walks on or Hollywood meetings she attends, she stays rooted. Her life after Insecure’s success is still powered by prayer, purpose, and obedience. She’s candid about trusting God’s timing, even when it doesn’t align with what the world expects.

From podcasts to panels, she continues to speak boldly about being a Christian in an industry that doesn’t always welcome it. But Orji doesn’t flinch–she glows differently because her light comes from a much deeper source.

“I was going to be a doctor,” she informed ABC News in a 2021 interview. “God told me to do comedy, and I had never done it. It’s also not a thing that my very immigrant parents felt could be a career. I mean, I didn’t know it could be a career either. So, yeah, He derailed all of our plans!”

So… What’s Next?

Orji is building her own table and pulling up chairs for others while she’s at it. From comedy specials to TV development, her next chapter appears just as noteworthy as her last. If you’re a fan of women who hustle with humor, walk with God, and don’t water themselves down, you’re going to want to keep this Hollywood heavyweight on your radar.

These days, Orji acts as the host of Netflix’s version of the viral YouTube dating series, Pop The Balloon LIVE. Per to the streamer’s website, “in each episode, singles line up, and other participants ‘pop the balloon’ of anyone they’re not feeling — instantly eliminating them from the dating pool. Sparks fly, feelings flare, but one thing’s for sure: When your balloon pops, so does your shot at love. With its live format, the Netflix version promises even more drama, dilemmas, and raw, unfiltered romance — all streamed as it happens.”

She told Tudum of the accomplishment, “What excited me is expanding that fan base.”

Bolia Matundu and Arlette Amuli are credited as the original creators.

What is Yvonne Orji doing now? BIG THINGS! Drop some congratulations for her in the comments!