Acclaimed actor Djimon Hounsou, known for his roles in major films across Marvel, DC, Netflix, and beyond, 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 long list of blockbuster appearances, Hounsou told CNN, "I’m still struggling to make a living. I’ve been in this business making films now for over two decades…and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I'm definitely underpaid."
This echoes sentiments he expressed in 2023 to The Guardian, where he felt "cheated…in terms of finances and in terms of the workload." Hounsou, a Black actor from Benin, also alleges that racism and xenophobia have significantly impacted his career. He recounted experiences where studio meetings left him feeling dismissed, with comments 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 acknowledges the limitations of such perceptions, 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."
Hounsou's recent projects 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 numerous other films. His continued success despite persistent financial hardship highlights a troubling disparity within the film industry.
