Jimenez Honsu He has dozens of award-winning films and two Oscar nominations under his belt, but the actor says he still struggles financially and is "definitely underpaid."
In a new interview with Dr CNN Published on Friday, January 10, the Beninese-born actor, 60, said he does not feel he is fairly compensated for his work and still faces systemic racism in the industry.
"I'm still struggling trying to make a living," said Hounsou, who received an Oscar nomination in america (2002) and Blood Diamond (2006), stated Larry Madowo. “I have been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations, many blockbuster films, and yet, I am still struggling financially. I must be underpaid."
Hounsou, whose best-known performances include Ridley Scottof Gladiator (2000), Steven Spielbergof amistad (1997) and quiet place franchise, went on to discuss racism in Hollywood.
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"I was nominated for a Golden Globe (for Amistad), but they ignored me for the Oscar, talking about the fact that they thought I just got off the boat and onto the street," Hounsou said. CNN Interview “Even though I did it (the film) successfully, they didn't think I was an actor for whom they should give any respect. This conceptualization of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism isn't going to change anytime soon."
Hounsou — who shares 15-year-old son Kenzo with ex Kimora Lee Simmons and 2-year-old son Fela with partner Riza - has opened up about his career struggles in previous interviews. With a 2023 sitting down The GuardianHounsou said he was "severely deceived" afterwards Blood Diamond costar Leonardo DiCaprio Despite the film focusing on his character's journey, he was left in the supporting actor category, earning him a Best Actor nod.
“Today, we talk a lot about the Oscars being so white, but I think there was a time when I had no support: no support from my own people, no support from the media, from the industry itself. It was like: 'You should be happy that you've been nominated,' and that's it."
He continued: “I'm still struggling to try to make a dollar! I've been in business with some people who are absolutely fine and I have very few compliments. So I feel cheated, hugely cheated, financially and also in terms of workload."
"I still have to prove why I should get paid," he added later in the interview. "They always bring me the whole low ball: 'We only have so much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much.'"
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In 2025, he is ready to act under the storm as well as Phoebe Dinever And The Zealot with Cody Schmitt-McPhee After starring in a few DC and Marvel films. Still, Hounsou insisted The Guardian The studios that assumed he "went back" to Africa later amistad and was not "a real actor".
"When you hear things like that, you can see that some people's view of you, or what you represent, is very limited," he said. “But it is what it is. It's up to me to redeem it."
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