The Beninese-born actor says after twenty years in Hollywood, he still struggles financially.
Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Hounsou, the acclaimed Hollywood actor, has publicly discussed his financial difficulties despite enjoying a successful career spanning over two decades.
The Beninese-American star, best known for his role in Blood Diamond, made this surprising revelation during a recent interview on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers.
In a preview of the upcoming episode, the 60-year-old actor revealed that, despite his clear success in Hollywood, he struggles financially due to being underpaid.
Hounsou’s impressive career includes two Oscar nominations for his performances in Blood Diamond and In America. He also spoke candidly about how racism in Hollywood has affected his professional journey.
I’m still struggling to make a living. I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.
I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars because they thought that I had just come off the boat and the streets. Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect.
So, this conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon.
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Hounsou is a seasoned Hollywood actor with decades of experience under his belt. He made his Hollywood debut in the 1990 movie, ‘Without You I’m Nothing’. He gained global fame for his role in the 2006 film ‘Blood Diamond’, where he starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.
