Djimon Hounsou, a versatile actor known for his roles in major films across Marvel, DC, Netflix, and beyond, has revealed that he is "still struggling to make a living" in Hollywood. Despite his extensive career and two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in "In America" and "Blood Diamond," Hounsou told CNN that he feels "definitely underpaid" in the film industry.
"I’m still struggling to make a living. I’ve been in this business making films now for over two decades with two Oscar nominations, been in many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I'm definitely underpaid," Hounsou expressed. This sentiment aligns with his previous comments in 2023 to The Guardian, where he noted feeling "cheated, tremendously cheated," in terms of both finances and workload, especially when comparing himself to peers with fewer accolades but greater financial success.
Hounsou, a black actor from Benin, has also highlighted the impact of racism and xenophobia on his career. He shared experiences from studio meetings where executives expressed surprise at his continued presence in the industry, suggesting a limited perception of his capabilities. "I’ve gone to studios for meetings and they’re like, ‘Wow, we felt like you just got off the boat and then went back [after Amistad]. We didn’t know you were here as a true actor,'" he recounted. Hounsou acknowledges that such perceptions can be limiting but remains determined to overcome them, stating, "When you hear things like that, you can see that some people’s vision of you, or what you represent, is very limiting. But it is what it is. It’s up to me to redeem that."
Recently, Hounsou has continued to showcase his talent in various high-profile projects, including "A Quiet Place: Day One," the two "Rebel Moon" films from Netflix, the video game adaptation "Gran Turismo," "The King's Man," "Shazam: Fury of the Gods," "Captain Marvel," "Fast and Furious 7," and many other films.
