Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Gaston Hounsou is a BenineseAmerican model, and actor. Hounsou began his career appearing in music videos. He made his film debut in the Sandra Bernhard film Without You Im Nothing and gained widespread recognition for his role as Cinqu in the Steven Spielberg film Amistad . He gained further recognition for his roles in Gladiator , In America and Blood Diamond . He has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Academy Awards.
Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Bnin, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He emigrated to Lyon in France at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond. Soon after arriving in France, Hounsou dropped out of school and became homeless for a time. A chance meeting with a photographer led to Hounsou being introduced to fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who encouraged Hounsou to pursue a modeling career. In 1987, Hounsou became a model and established a career in Paris. He moved to the United States in 1990.
Source: Wikipedia