To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Academy award nominated actor Djimon Hounsou is 'struggling to make a dollar'

Stefania Sarrubba

Published 
| Last updated 

Academy award nominated actor Djimon Hounsou is 'struggling to make a dollar'

Featured Image Credit: Stills Press / Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Shazam! Fury of the Gods star Djimon Hounsou may have been nominated for two Academy Awards, but has recently said he struggled to make it in Hollywood.

Loading…

The actor, who was nominated for an Oscar for the movies In America (2002) and Blood Diamond (2006), has admitted he felt undervalued.

Advert

After recently starring as The Wizard in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the DC star opened up on feeling 'seriously cheated' by the industry despite his success.

Djimon Hounsou had his big break in Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997). Credit: JEP Celebrity Photos / Alamy Stock Photo
Djimon Hounsou had his big break in Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997). Credit: JEP Celebrity Photos / Alamy Stock Photo

"I felt seriously cheated," he said in an interview with The Guardian.

"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.

Advert

"It felt like: ‘You should be happy that you’ve got nominated,’ and that’s that."

Hounsou, who also stars in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Korath the Pursuer, explained that he is still having a hard time trying to support himself in the business.

"I’m still struggling to try to make a dollar!" he said.

"I've come up in the business with some people who are absolutely well off and have very little of my accolades. So I feel cheated, tremendously cheated, in terms of finances and in terms of the workload as well."

Advert

However, the actor said things are slowly improving as to how he's regarded in Hollywood.

"From time to time, they themselves make the point of saying: 'We should give him more, he's a little under appreciated.' I think they recognize that themselves," Hounsou continued. "Hey, it's the struggle I have to overcome!"

Hounsou stars in the DC superhero film Shazam! Fury of the Gods as the Wizard. Credit: PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo / Warner Bros.
Hounsou stars in the DC superhero film Shazam! Fury of the Gods as the Wizard. Credit: PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo / Warner Bros.
Advert

The Everything Everywhere All at Once star received a Best Supporting Actor award for the role of Waymond Wang in the movie by the Daniels, giving an emotional speech in which he looked back on his career struggles.

Following his success in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as a child actor, Quan's phone didn't ring with new, exciting roles for a while.

In his acceptance message, the actor encouraged everyone to not give up on their dreams and gave a shoutout to his wife Echo, who stood by him during the darkest moments of his career.

"I owe everything to the love of my life, my wife Echo, who month after month, year after year for 20 years told me that one day, my time will come. Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine," Quan said.

Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV

Stefania Sarrubba
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

News

Most gruesome shark attack in history saw 150 sailors eaten one by one

10 hours ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Harvard University's Taylor Swift course's entire year syllabus has been leaked

13 hours ago