Nollywood actor and director Daniel Etim-Effiong has opened up about his practice of praying before filming romantic scenes, explaining that his faith helps him navigate the demands of his acting career.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds, the actor, who made his directorial debut with The Herd, described praying before intimate scenes as “part of his worship.”
“I get all my inspiration from God,” Etim-Effiong said. “I go on my knees and pray before I go to set and kiss.”
The 37-year-old, who has faced public scrutiny for his romantic roles — particularly after a viral kissing scene with actress Bolaji Ogunmola in Summer Rain — stressed that his priority remains storytelling, not controversy.
“The fact that I play a lot of romantic roles means I get to have kissing scenes sometimes. But the question should go to the producers, why are they expressing affection only one way? There are other ways to show intimacy,” he said.
Etim-Effiong, who left a successful engineering career to pursue acting, said his career is driven by purpose and faith.
“My family is my garden, then my work. Acting feels like a calling to me, a way to worship through storytelling,” he added.
He also shared his perspective on why producers often include romantic scenes in movies, noting that market demand largely drives such decisions.
“The average Nollywood script says, ‘kiss passionately,’ because that’s what sells. But I believe there are braver ways to explore affection on screen,” Etim-Effiong explained.
Despite the attention and critique surrounding his work, he emphasized that faith, focus, and family remain his guiding principles. “When you’re a focused person, you don’t let naysayers get to you. You just do your job and move with purpose,” he said.
