Hounsou thanks Sheridan for chance to 'play a person'

African-born actor Djimon Hounsou has thanked Jim Sheridan for the chance to finally play an American on screen.

Hounsou, who was born in Benin but grew up in France, was cast by Sheridan to play a New York artist in Sheridan’s semi-autobiographical film In America.

“I’m finally playing a person – not the ’African-American’ or ’the African’ - just a person,” Hounsou, 39, told reporters.

Hounsou began his acting career as the rebel slave leader in Steven Spielberg's 1997 film Amistad but after that struggled to find good roles.

“The early years after Amistad were quite an education,” said Hounsou. “I had to spend a lot of time taking meetings with heads of studios who thought I would come in with a translator.”