I have always loved Djimon. He is an actor who can do a lot in smaller roles. Gladiator, and In America are two of his best. He was nominated for In America, Blood Diamond and I always felt that In America should have been his Oscar. He is currently promoting Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a movie that has become a "good pay" for many actors. Djimon spoke to the Guardian about his lack of respect in the industry, and that he has never received a large paycheck.

I moved to France when I was 12 years old. "It is a completely different environment, which taught me so many things but also tore me apart. I felt very lonely. Nobody could relate to me. You are in a foreign environment where people don't seem to care about your kind.

When he was a teenager, he moved to Paris: It was difficult to find acting work ("I felt racism was quite strong out there at that time"). Soon, his student visa expired. "I'm not only homeless, I'm illegal. At the time, it was nearly impossible to live in France and find a job. "So that's how it happened. I ended up living on the street."

He was discovered by Thierry Mugler through a chance encounter. He immediately recognized me and said: "This is the man we are looking for. "This is the man." It was a strange, stressful environment. Mugler's assistant photographed Hounsou wearing different outfits including leather underwear. Did he feel uneasy? "Yes, I felt uncomfortable. And was not sure if it was doing my manhood a disservice. Thierry Mugler was able to tell that I was extremely nervous in this situation and was a gentleman.

He says that he felt out of place in the fashion world when he moved to LA. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 22, despite having a limited command of English. He says, "All I could say was yes, hello, good afternoon, thank you, and yes sir." His Hollywood dreams were mocked by a visiting friend. "'Acting? You know you can't speak that language, right? To have someone else point this out was like getting a slap on the face. I was hurt and refused to share my dreams with anyone after that.

Amistad not being nominated for an Oscar. "Yeah. Maybe I was too early. "If my films had been released today, I would have definitely received an Oscar."

He said he felt "seriously cheated" when he was nominated for his supporting role in Blood Diamond (2006). We talk about how the Oscars are so white today, but I recall a time when I had no support whatsoever: from my family, the media or the industry. It was like, "You should be glad that you have been nominated" and that was it."

If he finds the industry to be limiting, he replied: "I still struggle to try and make a single dollar!" I've worked with people who have a lot of money and are very successful. They don't even come close to my achievements. So I feel cheated in both financial terms and also in terms the work load. When I have gone into studios to meet with people, they say: "Wow, it felt like you had just gotten off the boat [after Amistad] and then returned." You didn't realize you were an actor. It is what it's like. "It's my responsibility to redeem this."

He must still take on smaller roles. He does so to prove to himself that he is a man of the present and to "prove that I speak the language." I may not sound like an American, but that doesn't mean I have to. I just need to show why I deserve to be paid. I'm always treated with the lowest of low balls: "We have only this much money for the role but we really believe you can bring so many things." Viola Davis put it perfectly: she has won an Oscar and an Emmy and a Tony, and yet she can't be paid. She added a Grammy to her resume in February. Film after film is a struggle. "I haven't yet met a film that pays me fairly."

From The Guardian

It's so painful. And it reminds me too of Ke Huy Quan, who was a shooting star and then there was a lot more silence, blank looks at auditions and not much respect for these immigrant performers, who had already proven what they could do. It's a real shame that he did not win an Oscar for In America, as it was a wonderful showcase of his talent. It's also about race and which immigrants get work in Hollywood. I was so depressed after this interview. I hope that this interview will inspire some directors to cast him. He hopes to return for the Gladiator 2 movie, and I hope that happens.

Avalon Red provided the photos.