Oscar-Nominated Actor Says He’s ‘Underpaid,’ ‘Struggling’ Because Of ‘Systemic Racism’

Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou says he’s struggling to make ends meet despite his successful Hollywood career.

The 60-year-old has appeared in major films such as “Amistad,” “Gladiator,” “In America,” “Blood Diamond,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Captain Marvel,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Shazam!,” “A Quiet Place Part II,” “A Quiet Place: Day One,” and both “Rebel Moon” films. But he says he hasn’t gotten the recognition he deserves.

Hounsou made the remarks during a conversation on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers. 

“I’m still struggling to make a living,” he said, per People. “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.”

The actor said he thinks The Academy snubbed him for his role in Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” (1997). Hounsou pointed out that he received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance but didn’t get a nod for the Oscars.

“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,” he said. “Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect.”

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“This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon,” Hounsou added.

The Beninese-born actor emigrated to the United States at 23 after establishing a modeling career in Paris. He appeared in music videos and a few small parts before his breakout role as Cinqué in “Amistad.” Since then, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in “In America” (2004) and “Blood Diamond” (2007). 

Hounsou has made similar statements before. In March 2023, he told The Guardian he had “yet to meet the film that paid me fairly.”

“I still have to prove why I need to get paid,” the actor said at the time. “They always come at me with a complete low ball: ‘We only have this much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much.’”

“Viola Davis said it beautifully. She’s won an Oscar, she’s won an Emmy, she’s won a Tony and she still can’t get paid,” he added.