Djimon Hounsou 'still struggling to make a living' despite two Oscar nominations and blockbuster roles

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Djimon Hounsou has made a name for himself in Hollywood by working in critically acclaimed films such as 'In America' and 'Blood Diamond' for which he even earned Oscar nominations. However, things haven't been smooth for him despite the success.

The actor recently revealed in an interview with CNN that despite garnering critical acclaim in the industry, he is still struggling to "make a living." 

Djimon Hounsou 'still struggling to make a living'

The 'Gladiator' actor said, "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 big blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid."

The 60-year-old actor Beninese-born actor also alleged that he was snubbed for an Oscar after facing xenophobia and racism in the industry.

He said, "I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars, talking about the fact that they thought that I had just came off the boat and off the streets."

"Even though I successfully did [Spielberg’s 'Amistad' film], they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect. This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go," the actor noted and added that "systemic racism" won’t change "anytime soon".

Notably, CNN correspondent Larry Madowo called Hounsou’s claims "mind-boggling" to hear because Hounsou was "one of the first big Black actors I saw in big-budget films."

The actor responded, “Well, that’s a sign for you that systemic racism is not something you can deal with lightly.”

Djimon Hounsou feels 'cheated' in Hollywood due to unfair pay disparities

Djimon Hounsou has previously talked about feeling "cheated" in Hollywood due to unfair pay disparities. The actor said during an interview with The Guardian in March 2023, "I’m still struggling to try to make a dollar! I’ve come up in the business with some people who are absolutely well off and have very little of my accolades."

He added, "So I feel cheated, tremendously cheated, in terms of finances and in terms of the workload as well."

He informed the outlet that in the past, he’s visited studios for meetings only to be told, "Wow, we felt like you just got off the boat and then went back [after Amistad]. We didn’t know you were here as a true actor."

He added, “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.”

Notably, Hounsou's additional credits include 'Stargate', 'Constantine', 'Eragon', 'How to Train Your Dragon 2', 'Furious 7', 'Aquaman', 'Charlie's Angels', 'The King's Man' and both parts of Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon'.

Djimon Hounsou's net worth explored

Djimon Hounsou has built a huge fan base over the years, thanks to his acting prowess. He initially started his career as a model and later transitioned into films and TV shows, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

In January 2020, Djimon purchased a house in Los Angeles' Westchester neighborhood for $2.1 million. In October 2023, he offered his home for rent for $11,750 per month, the outlet stated.

The outlet added that the actor has a net worth of $2 million.