Actor Djimon Hounsou has revealed that he still struggles to earn a sustainable living from his acting career.

He spoke candidly to CNN about his continued financial challenges despite decades of success in Hollywood.

The two-time Academy Award nominee originally from Benin, gained prominence with roles in films such as Ridley Scott’s Gladiator and Blood Diamond (2006), the latter earning him an Oscar nomination. He received an Oscar nod in 2002 for In America. However, he disclosed that despite his extensive filmography, he is “underpaid” and often receives offers way below his pedigree.

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

The 60-year-old actor says he feels financially outpaced by peers with fewer accolades, stating that he feels “cheated.” He also described how industry perceptions have limited his opportunities, recounting meetings where studio executives appeared unaware of his continued work since his breakout role in Amistad (1997).

“I’ve come up in the business with some people who are absolutely well off and have very little of my accolades,” he explained. “So I feel cheated, tremendously cheated, in terms of finances and the workload as well. I’ve gone to studios for meetings, and they’re like: ‘Wow, we felt like you just got off the boat and then went back [after Amistad].’ When you hear things like that, you can see that some people’s vision of you, or what you represent, is very limiting.”

Hounsou also pointed to racism and xenophobia as barriers to recognition, particularly following his performance as a rebellion leader in Amistad.

“I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars, talking about the fact that they thought I had just come off the boat and off the streets,” he said. “Even though I successfully did that [film], 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 doesn’t change like that anytime soon.”