Why Djimon Hounsou Feels 'Tremendously Cheated' by Hollywood

"There was a time where I had no support at all."

Djimon Hounsou got candid about his struggle to find work in Hollywood.

The actor, who received Academy Award nominations under the Best Supporting Actor category for In America and Blood Diamond, told The Guardian he feels like he still has to constantly prove himself as a Black actor.

"I still have to prove why I need to get paid," said Hounsou. "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.'"

He continued, "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. Film after film, it's a struggle. I have yet to meet the film that paid me fairly." (Davis won a Grammy in February, achieving EGOT status.)

Hounsou talked about how uncomfortable it felt when Leonardo DiCaprio received the Oscar nomination for Best Actor in Blood Diamond instead of himself, despite the film's focus being on his character.

"I felt seriously cheated," said Hounsou. "Today, we talk so much about the Oscars being so white, but I remember there was a time where I had no support at all: no support from my own people, no support from the media, from the industry itself. It felt like: ‘You should be happy that you’ve got nominated,’ and that’s that."

Hounsou also pointed out that some of industry peers are wealthy and haven't received a fraction of the accolades he's gotten, so he feels "tremendously cheated" financially and in terms of workload.

Thankfully, things are looking up for Hounsou. He stars in the Shazam! franchise as The Wizard. He told The Guardian he gets more screen time in the Shazam! sequel, and he gets to have a lighter, more fun role than his usual fare.

Catch Hounsou in Shazam! 2, playing in theaters now.