The first time I ever saw Djimon Hounsou was in (what I say is) the best Steven Spielberg film ever made… Amistad. Playing the leader of a slave ship rebellion, Hounsou captivated you every moment he was on the screen.
Even in Gladiator, or In America (which he was nominated for an Oscar for), the man has a pure power of presence that I haven’t seen since Sean Connery. He’s just great in everything I’ve seen him in… he’s even good in The Island.
Anyway, CNN has a really good article on Hounsou that is really worth the read. Here’s an excerpt:
Hounsou has been working regularly in recent years on both the big and small screens, with notable story arcs on “ER” and “Alias” and appearing in such films as 2003’s “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” with Angelina Jolie and with Laurence Fishburne in “Biker Boyz.” Earlier this year, he co-starred in “Constantine” with Keanu Reeves and as Queen Latifah’s love interest “Beauty Shop.”
“Baby steps,” he says of his career moves. “No matter how you look at it, we’re minorities in the Hollywood world, and you still have so much to work for, and we don’t necessarily have the luxury of making mistakes. With us there’s stakes in mistakes, so you have to play your cards and be patient.”
This guy is 100% leading man material. All he needs is the right script and a director ready to allow him to make that step and I think you’ve got a serious major career. Just my opinion anyway. Go over and give that article a read.
