In a recent interview, popular actor Djimon Hounsou opened up about the challenges of being a person of color in Hollywood. The Benin-born actor spoke candidly about his Hollywood experience on a recent CNN African Voices Changemakers segment.
During the interview, Hounsou revealed receiving inadequate compensation despite two decades in the business. Hounsou said, “I’m still struggling to make a living. I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades, with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.”
Additionally, Hounsou stated that he felt overlooked by the Academy Awards despite a Golden Globe nomination for his role in Spielberg’s 1997 film “Amistad.” Hounsou said, “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.”
Additionally, Hounsou stated that he thinks diversity in the entertainment sector still needs a lot of work. The actor said, “Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect. This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon.”
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How Did Djimon Hounsou’s Career Start?
American actor Djimon Hounsou was born in Benin and started his career in 1989, featuring music videos. In 1990, Hounsou made his movie debut, featuring Sandra Bernhard’s movie “Without You, I’m Nothing.” In addition to his guest star appearance on “Alias,” Hounsou went on to make appearances on the series “Beverly Hills,” “90210,” and “ER.”
However, it was in 1994 that Hounsou began making waves following his role in the science fiction movie “Stargate.” Hounsou’s portrayal as Cinqué in the 1997 film “Amistad” garnered widespread critical praise and earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination.
Subsequently, in 2000, Hounsou received widespread popularity for his role as Juba in the 2000 movie “Gladiator.” In 2004, the Benin-born actor became the fourth African man to receive an Oscar nomination, following his supporting role in the 2004 movie “In America.” He co-starred with Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor as a mercenary in the 2005 film, “The Island.”
Arriving in the U.S. at 23, Hounsou credits Spielberg and Hollywood for inspiring the Djimon Hounsou Foundation. According to its website, the organization’s goal is to heal the wounds that slavery left behind. The page further stated its desire to champion a visceral connection between the countries of the African diaspora and the motherland.
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What Role Did Djimon Hounsou Play in “Black Panther?”
Although Djimon Hounsou was not cast in the Marvel superhero movie “Black Panther,” he has been involved with Marvel since 2008. In May 2022, Tim Story, the director of “Fantastic Four,” told IGN that he would have preferred Hounsou to play Black Panther in a third movie. In November 2008, news broke that Hounsou would be the voice of Black Panther in the eponymous television series.
Some of Djimon Hounsou’s Best Movies?
Over the course of his 35-year career, Hounsou has appeared in several big movie franchises. Following the success of Spielberg’s 1997 film “Amistad” and the 2004 movie “Blood Diamond,” Hounsou has been cast in several movies. In 2009, he had a supporting role as Agent Henry Carver in the 2009 science-fiction film “Push,” alongside Chris Evans.
Subsequently, in 2014, Hounsou was cast to play the role of Korath the Pursuer in the Marvel Studios movie “Guardians of the Galaxy.” In that same year, he was cast to voice the character of Drago Blodfist in “How to Train Your Dragon 2.” Subsequently, in 2015, he portrayed antagonists in two motion pictures: “Furious 7” and “Seventh Son.”
In 2016, Hounsou graced the cinema screen following his role as Chief Mbonga in Disney’s “The Legend of Tarzan.” He became a member of the DC Extended Universe in 2018 and provided the voice of the Fisherman King Ricou in “Aquaman.” Subsequently, in 2019, Hounsou was cast to replace Ron Cephas Jones as the Wizard in “Shazam!”
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He returned to the character in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)” and “Black Adam (2022).” In 2019, he played Korath again in the animated series “What If…?” and in the Marvel Studios movie “Captain Marvel.” In November 2022, Hounsou was cast along with Geri Halliwell in the American biographical sports drama “Gran Turismo.”
What Is Djimon Hounsou’s Net Worth?
As of 2025, Djimon Hounsou is reported to have an estimated net worth of $2 million. In addition to his cinematic career, Hounsou has worked as a voice actor, contributing his unique voice to video games and animated films. In January 2025, while with CNN, Hounsou stated that despite his enormous success in Hollywood, he is still largely underpaid.
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