Ella Emmanuel says intimacy should be a natural expression of love
Nollywood actress and content creator Ella Emmanuel told Potpourri she does not view intimacy as a chore when two people are genuinely in love, and described sex as an important part of a healthy marriage or committed relationship.
The comments were published by Vanguard News, which reported the interview on 26 September 2026. The actress, whose name the report gave as Emmanuella Ebele Onwuegbuzie, said intimacy allows couples to connect both emotionally and physically. “I believe sex is a beautiful and important part of a healthy marriage or committed relationship. It’s one of the deepest ways couples connect emotionally and physically,” she said.
Emmanuel questioned how couples living together could go long periods without intimacy. “When I hear couples say they haven’t been intimate for one or two months despite living in the same house, I honestly wonder, ‘Are you roommates or lovers?'” she asked.
She told Potpourri that, for her, physical closeness should arise from attraction and love rather than duty. “If I’m in love with someone and attracted to them emotionally, mentally and physically, I don’t see intimacy as a chore. It’s a natural expression of love,” she added.
Beyond the physical aspect, Emmanuel said relationships require several other elements to succeed. The Vanguard report quoted her listing mutual respect, transparency, friendship, effective communication and intentionality as important features of a lasting partnership.
She urged partners to support rather than compete with one another. “Partners shouldn’t compete with each other; they should be each other’s biggest supporters. When respect and friendship exist, love has a solid foundation to grow,” she said.
The actress also spoke about sexuality and body confidence. She told the magazine that being sexy is not limited to physical appearance. “Being sexy isn’t just about appearance. Confidence is sexy. Intelligence is sexy. Self-respect is sexy,” she said, and added that women should feel free to flaunt their bodies if it makes them happy.
Emmanuel warned against letting societal or social media pressure dictate how people present themselves. “People often judge a book by its cover, but in my case, they usually get the story completely wrong,” she said. “As long as you’re expressing yourself because it makes you happy, not because society or social media is pressuring you, I don’t see anything wrong with it,” she added.
The interview and comments were published by Vanguard News. Read the original report on Vanguard here: Vanguard.
Featured image: Vanguard Nigeria via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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