Susan Sarandon Says She Is Still Losing Film Roles Over Support For Palestine

Susan Sarandon Says Hollywood Blacklist Persists

Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon stated on Sept. 6 that she continues to lose movie roles due to her public support for Palestinians. Speaking at the Venice Film Festival during a press conference for her latest film, The Echo Chamber, the 79-year-old performer said that major studios and talent agencies still enforce professional consequences against outspoken critics of Israel despite shifting global public opinion.

Sarandon told reporters that agencies actively discourage production teams from hiring her. She remarked, I’ve still had movies taken away recently because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still. The actress added that resistance remains particularly pronounced within major Hollywood studios, noting that other artists have faced similar industry pressure.

The Fallout From United Talent Agency Departure

The career friction follows Sarandon’s departure from her long-term talent agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), in 2023. UTA dropped the actress after she attended pro-Palestinian rallies following the Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. Since then, Sarandon has maintained her activism while asserting that her employment prospects within commercial studio systems remain restricted.

Finding Refuge in Independent Cinema

Despite professional hurdles in the United States, Sarandon expressed a sense of community abroad and within independent cinema. She told the Venice audience, I found my family, I found my people, and I’m okay. She specifically credited Italian director Andrea Pallaoro for defying industry warnings to cast her in his film.

Foreign Policy and Industry Friction

The political landscape surrounding the Middle East conflict also surfaced during the Venice press conference. Sarandon pointed to what she views as a broader shift in public awareness regarding U.S. foreign policy and military funding to Israel. She referenced the U.S. The ongoing conflict has heavily impacted the wider cultural sphere, creating friction across the entertainment industry. It was reported that Paramount recently accused actor Mark Ruffalo of utilizing antisemitic tropes in social media posts criticizing a corporate merger involving Oracle, a firm supplying technology linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. At the Venice Film Festival itself, festival organizers faced calls from activists to raise the Palestinian flag in recognition of Palestinian directors featured in the lineup. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera declined the request, explaining that Italy does not officially recognize Palestine as a state, though he highlighted several films on the Lido addressing the struggles of ordinary Palestinians.

Competing for the Golden Lion in Venice

Sarandon stars in The Echo Chamber as an ageing singer working on a comeback album alongside a recovering drug-addicted music producer played by Luca Marinelli. The film, adapted from the final screenplay by the late Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, is one of 21 features competing for the festival’s Golden Lion award. The winner is scheduled to be announced on Sept. 12.