Marvel and DC Actor Djimon Hounsou Says He Is 'Struggling To Make A Living' in Hollywood Despite 2 Oscar Nods

Renowned actor Djimon Hounsou, whose impressive filmography spans Marvel, DC, Netflix, and countless other productions, recently revealed a disheartening truth: he continues to struggle financially in Hollywood. Despite two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor (for In America and Blood Diamond) and a career filled with blockbuster appearances, Hounsou told CNN that he is significantly underpaid. "I’m still struggling to make a living," he stated. "I’ve been in this business making films now for over two decades with two Oscar nominations, been in many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I'm definitely underpaid."

This echoes sentiments he expressed in 2023 to The Guardian, where he described feeling "cheated, tremendously cheated, in terms of finances and in terms of the workload as well," comparing his financial situation to that of more financially successful colleagues with fewer accolades.

Hounsou, a Black actor from Benin, also alleges that racism and xenophobia have significantly impacted his career. He recounted instances where studio executives expressed surprise at his continued presence in Hollywood, suggesting a perception of him as a one-off appearance rather than a consistently working actor. "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," he commented.

His recent projects include A Quiet Place: Day One, the Rebel Moon films on Netflix, the video game adaptation Gran Turismo, The King's Man, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Captain Marvel, Fast and Furious 7, and numerous other notable films.

Djimon Hounsou. Image credit: Rob Kim/Getty Images for The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund.