Djimon Hounsou shares his ongoing battle for fair pay in Hollywood

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Actor Djimon Hounsou has recently shed light on the financial challenges he continues to face in Hollywood.

He has a career spanning over two decades and earned two Oscar nominations. However, Hounsou reveals that he is “still struggling to make a living.

DJIMON HOUNSOU’S STRUGGLE

In a candid interview on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, the 60-year-old Beninese-born actor expressed his frustration with the industry’s compensation disparities, according to People.

“I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films.

Yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid,” Hounsou stated.

Reflecting on his breakout role as Cinqué in Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama Amistad, Hounsou recounted feeling overlooked.

DJIMON HOUNSOU ON FEELING ‘OVERLOOKED’

He felt overlooked by the Academy Awards, despite receiving a Golden Globe nomination for the same performance.

He believes this snub was due to preconceived notions about his background, according to Deadline.

“I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars because they thought that I had just come off the boat and the streets,” he claimed.

“Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect.”

DIVERSITY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

Hounsou also highlighted the persistent issue of systemic racism and the slow progress of diversity within the entertainment industry.

“This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon,” he remarked.

This isn’t the first time Hounsou has spoken out about wage disparities in Hollywood, according to Entertainment Weekly.

In a March 2023 interview, he mentioned that he had “yet to meet the film that paid me fairly.”

VIOLA DAVIS’ SENTIMENT

He elaborated, “I still have to prove why I need to get paid. They always come at me with a complete low ball.

‘We only have this much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much.’

Hounsou’s experiences resonate with those of other Black actors in the industry.

He referenced Viola Davis, stating, “Viola Davis said it beautifully.

She’s won an Oscar, she’s won an Emmy, she’s won a Tony and she still can’t get paid.”

DJIMON HOUNSOU’S ACTING CAREER

Beyond his acting career, Hounsou’s experiences have inspired him to establish the Djimon Hounsou Foundation.

The organisation aims to “champion a visceral connection between the countries of the African diaspora and the motherland and to heal the wounds that slavery left behind.”

He explained, “As I was doing research for the film, I became profoundly aware of the disconnect between Afro-descendants from their roots and culture.

Because when you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know who you are.”

ACCOLADES AND EXPERIENCE

Hounsou’s revelations underscore the ongoing challenges faced by actors of colour in Hollywood, even those with significant accolades and experience.

His story serves as a poignant reminder of the systemic issues that persist in the entertainment industry, calling for continued efforts towards genuine diversity and equitable compensation.