Djimon Hounsou admitted he is ‘struggling to make a living’ in Hollywood despite having decades of acting experience under his belt.
The 60-year-old A Quiet Place star said he is struggling as a working actor, even though he has been nominated twice for an Oscar and starred in several blockbuster hit films.
During a recent appearance on an episode of CNNSpeaking on African Voices Changemakers, he spoke about still being “underpaid” and attributed this to “systemic racism” prevalent in the entertainment industry.
“I’m still struggling to make a living,” the Beninese actor — who shares 14-year-old son Kenzo Lee Hounsou with his ex Kimora Lee Simmons — told the outlet.
“I’ve been in the film business for over 20 years with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet I’m still struggling financially,” he revealed.
“I’m definitely underpaid,” the Marvel star added.
Djimon Hounsou admitted he’s ‘struggling to make a living’ in Hollywood despite having decades of acting experience under his belt; pictured in June 2024 in New York City
Hounsou also said he believed he was rejected by the Academy for his breakthrough role as Cinqué in Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama Amistad, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
“I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars because they thought I was just off the boat and off the street,” he claimed.
“Even though I did that successfully, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor they should pay any respect to.”
Hounsou said the entertainment industry still needs to grow more in terms of diversity and inclusion.
‘This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism is not going to change anytime soon,” he said.
Nearly two years ago, Hounsou also opened up about not being properly compensated in Hollywood.
He said he had yet to meet “the movie that paid me fairly,” in a March 2023 conversation The Guardian.
The 60-year-old star of A Quiet Place said he is struggling as a working actor, even though he has been nominated twice for an Oscar and starred in several blockbuster hit films; depicted in A Quiet Place: Day One film still
During a recent appearance on an episode of CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, he spoke about the fact that he is still “underpaid” and attributed this to “systemic racism” prevalent in the entertainment industry. “I’m still struggling to make a living,” said the Beninese actor; pictured in April 2024 in New York City
“I still have to prove why I should be paid,” he explained.
“They always come down to me very low: ‘We only have so much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much.’
The Gladiator alumnus referenced previous comments from EGOT winner Viola Davis about pay discrimination in the industry.
“Viola Davis said it beautifully,” Hounsou said. “She won an Oscar, she won an Emmy, she won a Tony and she still can’t get paid.”
The Guardians of the Galaxy actor said he was inspired to create the Djimon Hounsou Foundation with the mission “to advocate for a deep-rooted connection between the countries of the African diaspora and the motherland and to heal the wounds left by slavery has left behind,” said the official of the organization. website.
The Marvel star said he’s “struggling financially” and is “definitely underpaid”; depicted in the 2000 Gladiator film, still alongside Russell Crowe
Hounsou also said he believed he was rejected by the Academy for his breakthrough role as Cinqué in Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama Amistad, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination; pictured in December 2021 in New York City
Hounsou said the entertainment industry still needs to grow more in terms of diversity and inclusion; still depicted in the 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy film
“My acting has really opened my eyes,” the Marvel star told CNN; depicted in the Blood Diamond film still
“My acting has really opened my eyes,” the Marvel star told CNN.
“While researching the film, I became deeply aware of the divide between Afro-descendants and their roots and culture,” he explained. ‘Because if you don’t know where you come from, you don’t know who you are.’
He continued, “I had a compelling need to do something for my people, for my continent, and that was really what pushed me to start my mission. [foundation] so many years later.’
Hounsou said: ‘One of the hallmarks of the foundation is Africa Reconnect. The aim is to strengthen Africa’s intergenerational identity and self-awareness by bringing the people – through reconnecting the people – from the African diaspora to the motherland. On their history.’