Actress, Sarah Martins, has described herself as a serial entrepreneur whose success is driven by strategy, confidence and hard work rather than transactional relationships.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday Beats, the actress stressed that she has built her career and businesses through personal drive 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 acting career, Martins said Nollywood has always been more than a source of income.

“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 praised the growth of the Nigerian film industry while expressing a desire for stronger bonds 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.

Speaking on balancing her career, businesses and public life, Martins said discipline and structure have helped her stay focused.

She said, “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 also discussed her charitable activities, revealing that she has consistently funded weekly outreach programmes from her personal income for years.

“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.”

The actress also stated that she is often misunderstood by people who dismiss her humanitarian work as content creation despite its consistency and scale.

Reflecting on how public criticism has influenced her outlook on relationships and trust, Martins added, “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 also stated that she sees herself as more than an entertainer, pointing to her multiple business ventures while maintaining that she is still striving for greater success.

“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.