Sean Faris and Djimon Hounsou in Never Back Down Courtesy of Mandalay Independent

VIEW: More models turned actors

In Never Back Down, two-time Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou is Jean Roqua, a Brazilian mixed martial arts school coach. His task is teach new charge Jake Tyler (played by Sean Faris of television's Life As We Know It fame) to fight — but only for strength and discipline and not to use his skills outside of the classroom on the streets. "People who come here for the wrong reasons, they never last," Roqua warns his new pupil. The message is a pertinent one that could well be applied to Hounsou's own life.

When Hounsou came to the United States, his ambitions were clear: to break out of modeling and begin an acting career — despite having no theater or film experience and being barely able to make himself understood in English. Born in a village in the African state of Benin, Hounsou's family sent him to France at thirteen. He dropped out of school at an early age and was soon homeless, sleeping under bridges and wondering where to find his next meal. And then he was discovered by French fashion designer and photographer Thierry Mugler. It wasn't long before Hounsou became restless with the catwalks of Paris and headed for Los Angeles. He has stated that there were "extremely few opportunities for black folks" in French cinema: "And that is one of the reasons why I was so compelled to stay in America and try it because at least the opportunities are here and if you are good enough and you may get a chance to be heard or seen." He taught himself to speak English by watching television documentaries ("it's well-spoken English") and reading a lot.

The process was initially crushing: "You go to auditions," Hounsou recalled, "and you hear it everyday: 'Can you sound like an American?' Sooner or later you are going to take it personally. Sooner or later, it is going to hurt you, especially when you are making an effort." Breaking into film took over a decade and at various times he has felt discouraged: "That is the struggle — even when you are successful. It is a constant battle. Even when you are considered a great actor in some of the best films, you have to have a follow-up. Otherwise people forget about you. It is just the nature of the industry." Despite garnering critical acclaim for his performances in Amistad, In America and Blood Diamond, Hounsou is aware that as a foreigner and a former model, he will always be striving to make his mark in Hollywood: "Somebody once said they overheard David Geffen mention: 'If you feel like you belong, then you are in trouble.' That says a lot."

Like his Never Back Down co-star, Sean Faris broke into film after a modeling career (represented by the Barbizon agency in Cleveland, and later the International Model and Talent Association). He now has three films set for release in 2008. A stint in the world of beauty pageants or modeling has long been a right of passage for many aspiring actresses, and while there are exceptions to the rule (Lauren Hutton springs to mind), the greater the success in modeling, the slimmer the chances of a highly successful and acclaimed acting career (Cindy Crawford in Fair Game perhaps?). But few actors have made it through the ranks of male modeling to the silver screen. Premiere.com spotlights Hounsou and fourteen other men who escaped the lights of the catwalk and headed for the Hollywood Hills.

VIEW: More models turned actors