Djimon Hounsou, the Beninese-born actor with two Academy Award nominations and a career spanning over two decades, says he continues to face financial challenges in Hollywood. Despite his acclaimed performances in films like In America (2002), Blood Diamond (2006), and Gladiator (2000), Hounsou, 60, feels underpaid and overlooked in the industry.
In a recent interview with CNN, published on January 10, Hounsou shared his ongoing struggles, stating, “I’m still struggling to make a living.” He reflected on his extensive career, mentioning that even after starring in major blockbusters and receiving Oscar nods, financial success has eluded him. “I’ve been in this business making films for over two decades, with two Oscar nominations, and yet, I’m still struggling financially,” he said. “I’m definitely underpaid.”
Known for his roles in Amistad (1997), Blood Diamond, and The Quiet Place franchise, Hounsou also addressed the issue of systemic racism in Hollywood. He recalled being overlooked for an Oscar nomination for Amistad, despite earning a Golden Globe nomination. “They ignored me for the Oscars, talking about the fact that they thought I had just come off the boat,” he said. “Even though I successfully did that [film], they just didn’t feel like I was an actor for whom they should pay any respect.”
Hounsou emphasized that the industry’s approach to diversity still has a long way to go. “This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism doesn’t change like that anytime soon,” he remarked.
The actor, who shares two sons with ex-partner Kimora Lee Simmons and partner Ri’Za, has been vocal about his frustrations in previous interviews. In 2023, he expressed feeling “cheated” after his Blood Diamond co-star Leonardo DiCaprio received a Best Actor nomination while Hounsou was placed in the Supporting Actor category, despite his character’s central role in the film.
Reflecting on the industry’s lack of support, Hounsou said, “Today, we talk so much about the Oscars being so white, but I remember there was a time where I had no support at all—no support from my own people, no support from the media, from the industry itself.” He added, “It felt like: ‘You should be happy that you’ve got nominated,’ and that’s that.”
Despite his frustrations, Hounsou remains determined. “I’m still struggling to try to make a dollar!” he exclaimed. “I’ve come up in the business with some people who are absolutely well off and have very little of my accolades.”
Looking ahead, Hounsou is set to star in two upcoming projects in 2025: Beneath the Storm alongside Phoebe Dynevor and The Zealot with Kodi Smit-McPhee. Even with appearances in major DC and Marvel films, Hounsou believes that many still perceive him as a “non-American” actor who “went back to Africa” after his early roles, limiting the industry’s vision of his career.
“When you hear things like that, you can see that some people’s vision of you, or what you represent, is very limiting,” Hounsou said. “But it is what it is. It’s up to me to redeem that.”
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