Nollywood actress and philanthropist Sarah Martins has described herself as a serial entrepreneur whose success is built on strategy, confidence and hard work, insisting she has never relied on transactional relationships to achieve her goals.
Speaking in a recent interview, Martins said her acting career and multiple business ventures were driven by determination, discipline and a strong entrepreneurial mindset.
“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, describing herself as a strategic thinker who understands how to create value.
Reflecting on her journey in Nollywood, Martins said acting has always been a passion rather than a means of making money.
“Acting has always been a passion for me. It has never been about the money. It’s been something I’ve grown 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.
While commending the growth of the Nigerian film industry, the actress said she hopes to see greater unity and genuine love among practitioners.
“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.
On balancing her career, businesses and public life, Martins credited discipline and structure for helping her remain focused.
“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,” she said.
Martins also spoke about her philanthropic efforts, revealing that she has personally funded weekly outreach programmes for the past eight years.
“I cook once every week. So in a month, I spend no less than N2 million. In a year, that’s about N24 million, and over eight years, it adds up to about N192 million from my pocket,” she disclosed.
The actress said her humanitarian work is often misunderstood, with some people dismissing it as content creation despite its consistency and impact.
She also reflected on the lessons she has learned from public criticism, saying it has made her more cautious about trust and 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,” she said.
Despite her achievements, Martins said she remains focused on reaching greater heights, describing herself as someone who creates her own opportunities instead of following trends.
“I am not where I want to be yet, but I’m definitely not where I used to be. I am a strategic thinker. I don’t follow the crowd. I build my own presence from scratch,” she concluded.
