Actress and content creator Linda Mtoba has opened up about the realities of working in the South African entertainment industry — and her honest confession has caught the attention of many.
The former The River and Queendom star recently revealed that she earns more money from brand deals than from her acting roles. A video clip shared on social media by user @mbalis_bakery showed Mtoba speaking openly about the tough demands of acting and why content creation has become her main source of income.
It makes sense now. pic.twitter.com/7Oesvtphra
— Mbali Mashinini (@mbalis_bakery) May 29, 2025In the video, Linda, who is also a Vaseline brand ambassador, described acting as a “labour of love.” She explained that actors work very long hours and often have very little time for themselves or their families.
“The reason is it takes away so much. It takes you away from your family, even from your time. And when you are off, you’re too tired,” she said.
Linda also mentioned how demanding the filming schedule can be. She said actors often work from Saturday to Saturday twice a month, meaning they only get two weekends off.
“Uhamba kumnyama, ubuye kumnyama, most days,” she explained in isiZulu, meaning, “You leave in the early hours of the morning, when it’s still dark, and come back late, when it’s already dark.” “I leave at 5 in the morning and come back at 7 ebusuku (late),” she added.
But what surprised many people is how much more she earns from brand partnerships compared to acting. “The money that I make month-end is equivalent to a one-day content shoot,” Linda revealed.
Her honest words sparked a lot of conversation on social media. One user, @reality_everyth, commented, “This girl on TikTok said she got 100k for working with a brand.”
Another person, @TebohoMotaung, had a different view, saying, “I think it depends on the role and how you negotiate your contract. I was working with Cedric in the telecommunications industry and he was doing part-time acting at that time. He left telecommunications saying the money is good in acting.”
@Siya_ZAR also added, “She is getting more recognition and marketing on TV, that’s why she gets more brand deals.”
Linda Mtoba’s honest take gives people a closer look at what it’s really like to work in entertainment. Her story shows that while acting may bring fame, it doesn’t always bring fortune — and in today’s world, content creation can open up even bigger financial doors.
