Renowned actor Djimon Hounsou, whose impressive filmography spans Marvel, DC, Netflix, and countless other projects, recently revealed a disheartening truth: he's still struggling financially in Hollywood. Despite two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor (for In America and Blood Diamond) and a career filled with blockbuster appearances, Hounsou told CNN that he is significantly underpaid. "I’m still struggling to make a living," he stated. "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, a Black actor from Benin, also alleges that racism and xenophobia have negatively impacted his career. He recounted experiences where studio executives expressed surprise at his continued presence in Hollywood, suggesting their perception of him was limited. "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," he commented.
His recent credits include A Quiet Place: Day One, the Rebel Moon films (Netflix), Gran Turismo, The King's Man, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Captain Marvel, Fast and Furious 7, and many more.
