Oscar nominated and "Gladiator star" Djimon Hounsou revealed he is "struggling to make a living" despite his Hollywood success. He believes that he is "underpaid" by movie heads.
Hounsou, 60, started his career more than 30 years ago and received Academy Award nominations for his roles in 'In America' and 'Blood Diamond'.
Speaking on CNN’s 'African Voices Changemakers', he 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."
According to femalefirst.co.uk, he believes that he lost the Oscar for 'Amistad ' in 1997 as he feels that the Academy doesn't think they have to "pay him any respect" since he did a good job in the film.
"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," he added.
"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."
The actor had earlier said he still has to "prove" to move executives why he deserves to be paid higher than what is often offered to him.
He further said to The Guardian: "I still have to prove why I need to get paid. 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.".
"Viola Davis said it herself. She won an Oscar; she won a Tony; she's won an Emmy, and can't get paid.
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