Sarah Martins has opened up about her journey as an actress and entrepreneur, saying her accomplishments have been built on hard work, smart thinking and discipline rather than exchanging personal favours for opportunities.
Speaking during an interview with Saturday Beats, the Nollywood star said she has always believed in creating value through business and using her entrepreneurial skills to earn a living.
“I can look at you and know the service I can render to you that will make you give me the money in your pocket without having to sleep with me,” she said.
Martins explained that acting has never been driven by financial gain, describing Nollywood as a platform that has shaped both her career and personal growth.
“Acting has always been a passion for me. It has never been about the money. It’s been something that I grew with. It’s been a part of me, part of my journey and it has shaped me into the disciplined woman I am today. I am really grateful to God for the opportunity of Nollywood because, from the beginning, it has been a major part of my success story,” she said.
She also commended the progress made by the Nigerian film industry, while expressing hope that practitioners would develop stronger relationships with one another.
“To be honest, everybody is doing what they can, and I can’t deny the fact that Nollywood has improved so far. The major thing I would love in Nollywood is loving ourselves genuinely,” she added.
Discussing how she manages her career, businesses and personal life, Martins said staying organised and setting priorities have been key to maintaining balance.
“I only allow into my life what adds value to me. There is time for everything. When it is time for family, it is family time. When it is time for business, it is business time.”
The actress further revealed that she has spent nearly eight years personally funding a weekly charity outreach, estimating that she has invested about ₦192 million from her own earnings.
“I cook once every week. So in a month, I spend no less than N2m. In a year, that’s about N24m, and over eight years, it adds up to about N192m from my pocket.”
According to Martins, many people wrongly assume her humanitarian activities are merely social media content, even though she has remained committed to them for years.
She added that frequent public criticism has made her more guarded in her personal relationships.
“People will always judge you. They will always see you differently no matter what you do. That actually taught me about loyalty, so I decided not to be vulnerable with just anybody anymore.”
