Actor Djimon Hounsou Faces Financial Struggles Despite Oscar Recognition

Acclaimed actor Djimon Hounsou, a veteran of Marvel, DC, Netflix, and countless other productions, recently revealed his ongoing financial struggles in Hollywood. Despite two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor (In America and Blood Diamond) and a prolific career spanning blockbusters, Hounsou told CNN he remains "underpaid" and "struggling to make a living."

"I’m still struggling to make a living. 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," he stated.

This echoes sentiments Hounsou expressed in 2023 to The Guardian, where he voiced feelings of being "cheated...tremendously cheated, in terms of finances and in terms of the workload as well," comparing his financial situation to that of less-accomplished peers.

Hounsou, a Black actor from Benin, also attributed aspects of his career challenges to racism and xenophobia. He recounted instances of studios perceiving him as a newcomer, even after established roles. "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 credits 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 high-profile projects.