Oscar Nominated DC Actor Djimon Hounsou Says He’s ‘Definitely Underpaid’

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Since 1990, Djimon Hounsou has graced numerous Hollywood films and television productions like Gladiator (2000), Eragon (2006), and Furious 7 (2015). Moreover, he’s played various characters across Marvel and DC projects such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Aquaman, Shazam! Fury of the Gods. In a recent chat, Hounsou confessed his ongoing financial struggles and admitted to being underpaid.

Furious 7 and Shazam!’s Djimon Hounsou is ‘struggling to make a living’

Twice, actor Djimon Hounsou was recognized with Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Role; first in 2004 for his work in the film “In America,” and then again in 2007 for his performance in “Blood Diamond.

Regardless of his extensive acting career spanning small and large screens, he admitted facing financial troubles during a conversation with CNN’s African Voices Changemakers.

When asked to reflect on how Hollywood’s portrayal of Africans has evolved since he first started working, Hounsou commented, “Oh, absolutely there have been significant changes. Back when I was in Amistad [playing Sengbe Pieh / Joseph Cinqué], I received a Golden Globe nomination, but was overlooked for an Oscar. This suggests that they underestimated my abilities, treating me as if I had just arrived from a ship or the streets, even though Steven Spielberg chose me for this role.

In simpler terms, Idris Elba (the actor from Rebel Moon) said that even though he had achieved success, people didn’t seem to respect him as an actor they should pay attention to. Moreover, he emphasized that the issue of diversity in Hollywood still has a long way to go and change won’t happen quickly due to systemic racism.

Even though Djimon Hounsou has been acting in movies for more than two decades, earning two Oscar nominations and appearing in numerous blockbusters, he admitted that he’s still fighting to secure a stable income. He emphasized, “I’m not financially comfortable yet. I’ve definitely been undercompensated.

When the interviewer showed his shock, Hounsou replied, “Indeed, that’s a clue for you that systemic racism isn’t something trivial to handle.” The Black Adam star emphasized that systemic racism was deeply ingrained in so many aspects of life, making it difficult to overcome. Furthermore, as per Hounsou, the best one can do is learn to navigate through it.

Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on SuperHeroHype.

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2025-01-13 20:10