Hollywood star ‘still struggles to make a living’ despite two Oscar nominations

Djimon Hounsou is a two-time Academy Award nominee and has starred in films such as “Gladiator” and “Amistad.” But he does not reap the financial opportunities from his prestigious filmography.

The actor, 60, spoke about his experiences on CNN’s “African Voices Changemakers.”

“I’m still struggling to make a living,” he says. “I have been in the film business for over two decades, with two Oscar nominations and numerous successful films, and yet I still struggle financially. I’m definitely underpaid.

Hounsou has also starred in major films such as “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “Shazam” and “A Quiet Place Part II”. Despite these distinctions, Hounsou believes that he has yet to encounter a film that has “I paid it fairly.”

The actor also discussed the 1997 Oscars and feeling snubbed for not receiving a nomination for his role as Cinqué in “Amistad” that year.

“I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they passed me over for the Oscars because they thought I had just left the boat and left the street,” he claimed. “Even though I managed to pull it off, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor they should pay homage to.”

Hounsou will star in the thrillers “Beneath The Storm” and “The Zealot,” scheduled for release in 2025.

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Murjani Rawls can be contacted at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com