Although he’s probably most known now for his recent award-winning role as Solomon Bo in the critically acclaimed dramatic thriller Blood Diamond, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou’s acting career reaches back about seventeen years, and he also has a history as a dancer and fashion model.

Hounsou was born on April 24, 1964, in Cotonou, Benin, Africa, and moved with his brother to Paris, France, as a young teen. He lived on the streets until being discovered by model scout Thierry Mugler. After some modeling work, Hounsou was offered acting roles, the first being an appearance in the 1990 film Without You I’m Nothing, as well as in Janet Jackson’s music video Love Will Never Do (Without You), alongside Antonio Sabato Jr., the actor who has a child with actress Virginia Madsen.

He went on to guest star on the popular TV show Beverly Hills, 90210, after which he landed an appearance in 1994’s Stargate, starring Kurt Russell and James Spader. However, his breakthrough role came in 1997 when he was offered the part of Cinqué in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad, co-starring Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey. Hounsou’s performance garnered him a Golden Globe nomination. The nominations continued when after his critically acclaimed performance as Juba in 2000’s Gladiator, which starred Russell Crowe, Hounsou earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 2002's In America.

His most notable role remains as Solomon in Blood Diamond in 2006, for which he was nominated for a Broadcast Film Critics Association award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Academy Award, and for which he won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Other films in which Hounsou has appeared or starred include Deep Rising in 1998, starring Treat Williams and Famke Janssen; The Four Feathers in 2002, starring Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley, and Kate Hudson; and 2005's Constantine, with Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz. He also starred in The Island in 2005, with Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, and in 2006's fantasy/adventure film Eragon.

After his appearance on Beverly Hills back in 1990, Hounsou went on to enjoy a side television career with recurring roles on ER in 1999 and Alias from 2003 to 2004. He has also kept up his modeling career and he was just announced as the new Calvin Klein underwear model for their fall 2007 campaign.

Hounsou is currently slated to star in the upcoming film The Trunk in 2007.

YUDDY