Veteran Nollywood actor, Patrick Doyle, has issued a strong warning to emerging talents in the industry, cautioning them against attitudes of entitlement and a lack of humility, which he believes could prematurely end their careers.
Speaking during an interview on Nollywood On Radio, Doyle criticized the growing trend among young actors who, despite being relatively new to the industry, behave as though they are above basic responsibilities.
The 64-year-old actor expressed concern over the increasingly common practice of younger colleagues employing personal assistants for trivial tasks.
“I have seen young actors, young people who just started acting two years ago, they have what they call PA who brings water to them in a cup and puts it in their mouth. These are young people in their mid to late twenties, early thirties and somebody is bending down to untie your shoelace,” he said.
Doyle went on to describe such behavior as senseless, sharing that he often changes clothes on set himself to model humility for the younger generation. “And I am saying to myself ‘you have no sense’. One of the reasons why I change on set is to let those idiots see that this is how it is done, do not get too carried away.”
He warned that the lack of humility could have long-term consequences as their popularity fades and opportunities become scarce. “This is because there is going to be a time when they would not be cast for films, especially if you were an a*****e in your heyday.”
“When you get to your 40s and 50s, the producers are going to tell themselves that the roles that are coming are far in between, your fees have shrunk. You can no longer afford a PA, but then you would be making conditions to the producer that you would give me a PA. Someone must be attached to me to take care of me.”
He concluded by noting that producers will eventually stop working with actors whose demands outweigh their value: “The producers are going to tell themselves that it is not your face selling their movie, so why are you making such demands? Then, they are going to stop talking to you.”
Doyle’s remarks highlight the importance of humility, professionalism, and self-awareness in an industry where fame can be fleeting.
