Popular Nollywood actress and trained engineer, Etinosa Idemudia, has stirred conversation online after boldly stating that acting is more demanding than engineering.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Bold Enough To Say It podcast, the actress drew from her own personal experience in both professions to back her claim.
Etinosa, who holds a degree in engineering but later switched to the entertainment industry, did not hold back in her remarks. She described acting as “mad people’s work,” urging actors not to allow people in other professions to look down on their craft.
“I have been an engineer and I have been an actor. No offence to my colleagues in the engineering world, but I dare say that being an actor is much more tasking,” she said. “It’s a crazy kind of work. It’s mad people’s work.”
She continued by advising fellow actors to stand firm and be proud of their work. “Don’t let those people that close by 5 PM come and be insulting us,” she added, taking a swipe at 9-to-5 workers who often downplay the stress of acting.
Etinosa’s comments have since sparked mixed reactions on social media. While some agreed with her, highlighting the emotional, physical, and mental toll acting can take, others felt she exaggerated and disrespected the technical demands of engineering.
Her statement has reignited the age-old debate about which professions are more demanding or respectable in society. In Nigeria, engineering is often seen as a prestigious and stable career path, while acting is sometimes viewed as glamorous but less structured or secure.
However, many insiders in Nollywood have long argued that acting requires intense commitment, long hours on set, memorisation, and emotional range, making it a tough job in its own right.
Etinosa Idemudia, who has featured in numerous films and TV series, is also known for speaking out on social issues and challenging public perceptions of the entertainment industry.
