Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon has revealed that she continues to lose film opportunities because of her outspoken support for Palestinians, despite what she believes is a growing shift in public opinion over US support for Israel.
The 79-year-old actress made the disclosure while speaking at the Venice Film Festival, where she is promoting her latest movie, The Echo Chamber.
Sarandon said that while attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict appeared to be changing internationally, some sections of the entertainment industry continued to distance themselves from her because of her activism.
“I think that the narrative has completely changed in terms of the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties of Zionists with America and our politics,” Sarandon said.
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She added that many Americans had only recently begun to understand the scale of US financial support for Israel.
“I think that has been a major revelation for people, how much money the United States gives to Israel. Nobody really understood that,” she said.
Recent US opinion polling has indicated declining support for Israel and growing sympathy for Palestinians since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023.
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However, Sarandon said the change in public sentiment had not necessarily translated into greater acceptance within Hollywood.
“I’ve still had movies taken away recently because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still,” she told reporters.
“But that’s the power structure. I think among people, certainly internationally, I feel welcome.”
Dropped by Talent Agency
Sarandon, an Academy Award winner for her performance in Dead Man Walking, has enjoyed a celebrated career spanning several decades, with major roles in films including The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bull Durham and Thelma & Louise.
Her outspoken political activism has, however, occasionally affected her professional relationships.
In 2023, she was dropped by her longstanding talent agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), following comments she made while attending pro-Palestinian rallies in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.
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Among the remarks that drew criticism was her statement that people who were afraid of being Jewish were “getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country.”
Sarandon has continued to publicly advocate for Palestinians despite the backlash.
She said resistance to hiring outspoken critics of Israel remains particularly strong among major film studios.
“If it is a major studio, I think it’s not just with me but with other people who have been told that that is impossible,” she said.
The actress also expressed gratitude to Andrea Pallaoro, director of The Echo Chamber, for giving her the opportunity to appear in the film.
“I found my family, I found my people and I’m OK,” Sarandon said, prompting prolonged applause from those attending the news conference.
New Film at Venice
In The Echo Chamber, Sarandon portrays an ageing singer who hires a music producer recovering from drug addiction to help her make a comeback album.
The movie was adapted from the final screenplay written by acclaimed Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci.
It is one of 21 films competing for the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, with the winner scheduled to be announced on September 12.
The Venice festival has itself become a platform for debate over the Israel-Palestine conflict this year, with activists calling on organizers to raise the Palestinian flag in recognition of Palestinian directors whose films are being screened at the event.
Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera has said the flag cannot be officially displayed because Italy does not formally recognize the state of Palestine. However, he has highlighted several films at the festival that depict the experiences and struggles of ordinary Palestinians.
