Djimon Hounsou is being open about continued financial struggles, despite receiving several award nominations and working in the industry for nearly three decades.
The journalist asked Hounsou about the change in African representation in the film industry since he began his career. Hounsou stated, “Yes, there has been a substantial change.”
I was nominated for a Golden Globe but found myself overlooked for an Oscar, with the suggestion being that I was somehow not qualified, having supposedly only recently arrived in this country and been discovered by Steven Spielberg for this role.
Hounsou acknowledged that while he was in a high-profile film, he didn’t feel like he was an actor worthy of genuine respect.
There’s still a lot of progress to be made when it comes to understanding and valuing diversity in all its forms. Unfortunately, the deeply ingrained issues of systemic racism aren’t something that can be easily changed or eradicated in the near future.
He’s also been nominated for two Oscars. However, Hounsou contends that he still didn’t receive the compensation he should have, given his level of success.
After three decades, I’d say the initial 10 years was spent learning the ropes,” he said. “Now, with over 20 years of experience in Hollywood, including landing not one but two Oscar nominations, as well as starring in numerous big-budget films, I’m still finding it tough to make a living – financially speaking, I’m certainly underpaid.
It’s astonishing to hear that one of the first prominent Black actors seen in major Hollywood films, someone who might have been idolized as a youngster, is now facing financial difficulties.
Hounsou stated, “That’s a symptom of the severity of systemic racism, which is deeply ingrained in our actions and behaviors across the board, and it’s not something that can be overcome lightly.”
For Hounsou, he hopes that his work will earn him pride from his people in West Africa, where he’s originally from. “I moved to California with a strong motivation to make a positive impact on my continent and my community,” he said. “I’m optimistic that I’ve helped shift the image of my people and my continent.”
