Nollywood’s Social Media Strain: Jemima Osunde Speaks Out on Pressure for Actors to Double as Digital Creators

 Award-winning Nollywood actress Jemima Osunde has opened up about the increasingly blurred lines between acting and digital content creation in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape. 

During a candid discussion on the “Running Lines” podcast, she revealed that actors are now being judged not just by their craft, but by their social media presence and the number of followers they can bring to a project.

She explained that many film producers and casting directors are influenced by how visible an actor is online, regardless of their talent or professional experience. Osunde noted that this trend is pushing many actors to become full-time content creators, simply to remain relevant or considered for roles. This, she said, places a heavy burden on those who would rather focus solely on honing their acting skills.

The actress lamented that this social pressure undermines the core of the craft and contributes to burnout and identity confusion for actors who feel forced to entertain on multiple platforms beyond the screen. She stressed the need for the industry to return to prioritizing talent and performance over algorithms and analytics.