Djimon Hounsou He has dozens of award-winning films and two Oscar nominations under his belt, but the actor says he still struggles financially and is “definitely underpaid.”
In a new interview with CNN Posting on Friday, January 10, the 60-year-old Benin-born actor said he does not feel he has been fairly compensated for his work and continues to face systemic racism in the industry.
“I'm still struggling to make a living,” said Hounsou, who has received Oscar nominations In America (2002) and Blood diamond (2006), he said Larry Maddow. “I've been in this film business for over two decades with two Academy Award nominations and several blockbuster films, and yet, I'm still struggling financially. I'm definitely underpaid.
Hounsou, which includes her most famous performances Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000), Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997) and Quiet place The franchise has continued to discuss racism in Hollywood.
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“I was nominated for a Golden Globe (for Amistad), but they ignored me for the Oscars, and they talked about the fact that they thought I had just gotten off the boat and off the streets,” Hounsou said in his statements. CNN interview. “Even though I did this[film]successfully, they didn’t feel like I was an actor they should pay any respect to. This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism is not going to change like that any time soon.”
Hounsou – who shares 15-year-old son Kenzo with his ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons and his two-year-old son, Vela, with his partner Risa He has been open about his professional struggles in previous interviews. In 2023 sit-in with The GuardianHounsou said he “felt very cheated” afterward Blood diamond com. costar Leonardo DiCaprio He received a Best Actor nod while remaining in the Supporting Actor category despite the film's focus on his character's journey.
“Today, we talk a lot about the Oscars being very white, but I remember there was a time when I had no support at all: no support from my people, no support from the media, or from the industry itself. It just seemed like this.” “You should be happy with your nomination, and that's all.”
Djimon Hounsou
Clay Enos/NetflixHe continued: “I am still struggling to try to earn a dollar!” I have come into this business with some people who are in very good standing and have very few accolades for me to give. So I feel cheated, cheated a lot, in terms of finances and in terms of workload as well.
“I still have to prove why I need to get the money,” he added later in the interview. “They always come to me with completely low-key statements: ‘We only have this much money for this role, but we love you very much and really think you can offer a lot.’”
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In 2025, he is scheduled to play the title role Under the storm side by side Phoebe Dynevor and The fanatic with Kodi Smit-McPhee After appearing in a few DC and Marvel movies. However, Hounsou insisted on this The Guardian Those studios assumed he “returned” to Africa after that Amistad He was not a “real actor.”
“When you hear things like that, you can see that some people's view of you, or what you stand for, is very limited,” he said. “But it is what it is. It is up to me to redeem it.”
