Actors should focus on acting not marketing, says Omotola

Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has criticised the growing expectation for actors to dance on social media to promote their films, describing the practice as unprofessional. She made the remarks during an interview on the eSplash show, saying the trend reflects a misunderstanding of the actor’s role within the film industry.

The 47-year-old actress said while she enjoys dancing personally, it becomes problematic when it is treated as a compulsory requirement for movie promotion. She stressed that actors should not be forced into promotional activities simply to boost visibility, noting that their primary responsibility is to perform their roles in films.

Omotola said marketing and distribution should be handled by professionals assigned to those roles, adding that actors should focus on discussing their projects rather than carrying the full burden of advertising. She warned that what she described as demeaning promotional demands could be exhausting and unsustainable, especially for actors working on multiple projects.

Also Read: Eko Disco Confirms Rekhiat Momoh as Managing Director

Drawing comparisons with Hollywood, Omotola noted that many internationally acclaimed actors maintain little or no social media presence yet achieve commercial success. Her comments follow similar remarks by filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and media executive Mo Abudu at the Lagos Business of Film Summit, which sparked public debate on promotional strategies in Nollywood.