Djimon Hounsou’s acting career spans over 30 years, includes two Oscar nominations and roles in a myriad of high-profile and successful projects such as Amistad, Gladiator, In America, Laura Croft, Blood Diamond, Guardians of the Galaxy, Furious 7, Aquaman, Captain Marvel, Shazam!, A Quiet Pace Part II And Day one, Black Adam, Rebellious Moon and this weekend Shazam! Fury of the gods. Still, Hounsou told the Guardian in a recent interview, “I have yet to meet the movie that paid me fairly.”
He said, “I’m still having a hard time trying to make a dollar! I came into the business with people who are absolutely well off and have very few of my accolades. So I feel cheated, hugely cheated, in terms of finances and in terms of workload as well.
Specifically, the actor said, “I’ve been to studios for meetings and they’re like, ‘Wow, we felt like you just got off the boat and came back. [after Amistad]. We didn’t know you were here as a real actor. When you hear things like that, you can see that some people’s view of you, or what you stand for, is very limited. But it is what it is. It’s up to me to redeem that. »
As a result, Hounsou says, “I still have to prove why I need to be paid. They always come to me with a complete low ball, “We only have that for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can contribute so much.” “
And it’s not just him. Even actors who broke through at the Oscars find equal pay elusive, notes Hounsou.
“Viola Davis said it beautifully: she won an Oscar, she won an Emmy, she won a Tony and she still can’t be paid. [Davis won a Grammy in February for EGOT status.] Film after film, it’s a fight. I have yet to meet the movie that paid me fairly.
The actor recounts his experience with the Shazam! franchise was a little different.
“Among them all, the DC Universe has a level of respect,” he said. “There wasn’t much to the role at first and I did it and it was fun. But the second time around it was a bit more respectful.