Earlier this week, Marvel star Djimon Hounsou made the admission during a recent interview, revealing that systemic racism had made an impact on how his earlier work was received.
"I’ve been in this business and making films now over two decades, and still, with two nominations, Oscar nominations, been in many big blockbuster films and yet I’m still struggling financially to make a living," the 60-year-old explained during a CNN interview.
"I’m definitely underpaid."
The revelation that Hounsou was struggling to live despite starring in several blockbusters, receiving Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for his work, shocked interviewer Larry Madowo, who responded by saying it was 'mind-boggling' how 'one of the first big Black actors’ he saw in major films was struggling financially.
Hounsou may not be one of the most immediately recognisable names in Hollywood, but the actor has certainly enjoyed a stellar three-and-a-half decade career in both film and television, being able to count fellow stars such as Cillian Murphy, Joaquin Phoenix and Chris Pratt as his co-stars.
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What films has Djimon Hounsou featured in?
Hounsou's pay admission is particularly shocking when you consider the fact that he's appeared in some of the biggest films in the past decade, including major franchises such as Marvel and DC.
Here are some of the biggest projects from Hounsou's career:
A Quiet Place Part II (2020) and A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
The actor is credited as Henri, a man who leads an island of survivors in the post-apocalyptic horror flick.
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He later reprised the role for last year's prequel A Quiet Place: Day One alongside Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Captain Marvel (2019)
Hounsou played the role of Korath the Pursuer in both films, as well as appearing in Disney+ series What If...
DC films Aquaman (2018), Shazam (2019) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
The actor dipped his toes into the world of DC, playing the role of The Wizard in Shazam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods alongside. He also voiced King Ricou in Aquaman.
The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
He played Chief Mbonga in 2016's The Legend of Tarzan alongside Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson and Margot Robbie.
Furious 7 (2015)
In 2015, Hounsou joined the Fast & Furious franchise in its seventh feature film appearing alongside Vin Diesel, the late Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez and Jason Statham.
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The film would go on to gross $1.516 billion globally, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time at the time of release.
Outside of the past decade, you may also recognise Hounsou from Gladiator, where he played the close friend of Russell Crowe's Maxiumus, Blood Diamond and Amistad, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
He will next appear in Beneath the Storm, The Zealot and The Monster.
Given such a stellar résumé, it's fair to say that Hounsou deserves a major pay rise.
Topics: Celebrity, TV and Film, Money
Brenna Cooper