Daniel Effiong: Why I pray before kissing in movies

Daniel Etim-Effiong says he turns to prayer before performing any intimate scene in movies

In an interview on Rubbin’ Minds, the film star framed his acting career as a divine “expression of worship”.

The actor, who left an engineering career to pursue storytelling, likened his craft to the biblical calling of Adam, entrusted to tend a garden.

“I believe that work is an expression of worship. When God made Adam, He placed him in the garden and instructed him to tend it; that act of obedience became his expression of worship. In my reality, my family is my garden, then my work; so it all becomes purposeful to me,” he said.

“That’s why I had the courage to quit engineering and go into storytelling, filmmaking, and entertainment because I felt it was more of a calling. I had this deep desire in my heart to tell stories and inspire people through them.

“So, if I’m convinced that this is what I’m called to do, then doing it becomes an expression of worship for me. I have no problem acting and telling stories that inspire people, as a form of worship, they go hand in hand.”

Etim-Effiong revealed that his spiritual approach directly influences his on-set routine.

“I get all my inspiration from God; I go on my knees and pray before going on set and before every kiss scene,” he said.

The actor acknowledged that his frequent appearance in romantic roles — and their accompanying kissing scenes — has drawn attention.

He, however, shifted the focus to producers and audience expectations, suggesting that the industry relies heavily on a single, marketable form of intimacy.

“The fact that I play a lot of romantic roles in the industry means I sometimes have to perform kissing scenes. I guess people feel it has become a bit too frequent, but the question should be directed to the producers: why is affection and intimacy often expressed in just one way? There are several other ways to show it,” he said.

“In most Nollywood scripts, you open a page and see, ‘they kiss passionately’. It’s done deliberately because that’s what sells, that’s what the audience wants. It’s simply a matter of demand and supply.

“However, I think the braver thing to do is to explore other forms of intimacy and find new ways to express affection. That, to me, is the way forward.”

The actor previously stirred mixed reactions after sharing a romantic kiss with actress Bolaji Ogunmola in a promotional clip for a movie.