While Hollywood has seemingly made some strides in terms of inclusion and representation in films and TV shows, there’s still quite a bit of work that still needs to be done. And perhaps no one knows that better than Djimon Hounsou, someone who has nearly reached the critical pinnacle as an actor but still feels as if he’s underpaid.

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Speaking in a recent CNN episode of “African Voices,” Djimon Hounsou talked about his philanthropy work, as well as his career as an Oscar-nominated actor. Unfortunately, while his career has seen him take on some huge roles throughout the years, Hounsou feels as if he is still a struggling actor, who is often underpaid for his work. 

“I’m still struggling to make a living,” said Hounsou. “I’ve been in this business making films now for over two decades with two Oscar nominations, been in many big blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.”

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While we don’t know the intricacies of Hounsou’s financials, it would be silly to think that he is living paycheck to paycheck like so many people in the United States are. That said, it sounds as if his real issue with Hollywood is in regards to being underpaid compared to his co-stars. That’s something he believes comes from the fact that there is still systemic racism all around. 

Hounsou is probably best known for his earlier work, which earned him Golden Globe and Oscar nominations, such as “Amistad,” “Blood Diamond,” and “Gladiator.” However, he’s been steadily working since then, recently appearing in films such as “A Quiet Place Part II,” “A Quiet Place: Day One,” “Shazam,” “The King’s Man,” and both “Rebel Moon” films.