Acclaimed actor Djimon Hounsou, known for his roles in Marvel, DC, Netflix, and numerous other high-profile films, recently revealed his ongoing financial struggles in Hollywood.

Despite two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor (In America and Blood Diamond) and a prolific career spanning blockbusters, Hounsou told CNN he is significantly underpaid. "I’m still struggling to make a living," he stated. "I’ve been in this business making films now for over two decades with two Oscar nominations, been in many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I'm definitely underpaid."

These sentiments mirror his 2023 comments to The Guardian, where he expressed feeling "cheated, tremendously cheated, in terms of finances and in terms of the workload."

Hounsou, a Black actor from Benin, also cited racism and xenophobia as factors impacting his career. He recounted instances where studio executives expressed surprise at his continued presence in Hollywood, implying a perception of him as a fleeting presence rather than a seasoned professional. "When you hear things like that, you can see that some people’s vision of you, or what you represent, is very limiting," he observed. "But it is what it is. It’s up to me to redeem that."

His recent projects include A Quiet Place: Day One, the Rebel Moon films (Netflix), Gran Turismo, The King's Man, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Captain Marvel, Fast and Furious 7, and many more.