Djimon Hounsou has always been passionate about acting. After working as a model, he finally decided to pursue a career in acting and moved to the United States. Soon, he was able to establish himself as a commendable actor in Hollywood. However, the Blood Diamond star still feels that the industry has failed to appreciate his contribution as he opens up about the lack of recognition for black actors in Hollywood.
And as he reprises his role in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the 58-year-old actor feels grateful to DC Studios for recognizing his efforts amid his constant struggle to prove himself.
Read More: Shazam! Fury of the Gods Review: Shockingly Decent Sequel
Djimon Hounsou Feels Grateful to DC
During his recent interview with The Guardian, Djimon Hounsou opened up about his struggles in Hollywood and appreciated DC Studios for valuing his work. He shared that DC has “a level of respect” as they offered him a role he has “rarely been given.”
He shared that there was not much to his character when he was offered the role in the 2019 film Shazam! However, he feels “it was a little more respectful” in the sequel. He further mentioned how he felt his work was “a little under-appreciated” and Hollywood is slowly recognizing his efforts as an actor.
“From time to time, they themselves make the point of saying: ‘We should give him more, he’s a little underappreciated.’ I think they recognize that themselves.”
Djimon Hounsou appeared as the last surviving member of the Council of Wizards and gave his powers to Billy Batson in Shazam! The 58-year-old actor reprised his role in the sequel of the 2019 film Shazam! Fury of the Gods. While he did not have much screen time in the first film, Hounsou gave a great performance in the sequel as he joined the successors of the Shazam family.
Djimon Hounsou Frustrated With Hollywood’s Attitude Toward Black Actors
During his interview with The Guardian, Djimon Hounsou also talks about how he feels frustrated with Hollywood’s attitude toward black actors. Hounsou has been offered the part of a slave three times in Amistad, Gladiator, and The Four Feathers. The Amistad star shared that he is struggling to make a dollar.
He also described how studios did not even consider him a professional actor as they assumed that he “got off the boat and then went back.” As he reprised his role in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the actor also hopes to land a part in the sequel of the 2000 action-adventure film, Gladiator.
Gladiator, In America, and Blood Diamond are some of the popular works that gave Hounsou widespread recognition. He also received Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the latter two films.
He shared that he “felt seriously cheated” as he was unable to win for any of his roles and instead felt like “[he] should be happy that [he] got nominated.” However, he is still up to face the challenges and will continue to do so until he overcomes them.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is playing in theatres now.
Source: The Guardian
