Susan Sarandon Says Gaza Views Still Cost Her Film Roles
Susan Sarandon says she still loses film roles due to her pro-Palestinian stance, despite a shift in public understanding.
At the Venice Film Festival, actor Susan Sarandon said her outspoken views on the war in Gaza continue to cost her work in Hollywood. Speaking on 6 September, Sarandon explained that while public opinion may be changing, the industry's power structure remains resistant.
"In terms of the power structure, I've still had movies taken away recently," she said, noting that some agencies still advise against hiring her. She added that major studios, in particular, have told her that certain projects are "impossible" because of her stance.
Sarandon acknowledged that not everyone in the industry has followed that advice. She thanked a filmmaker, referred to as Andrea, for ignoring warnings and working with her. "He didn't listen to the warnings," she said.
She observed a shift in how the situation is understood by the general public, but said that within her industry, "there are still very strongly held positions... held by Zionists who have not relaxed their feelings towards me."
Sarandon was dropped by her talent agency in 2023 after speaking out against the war in Gaza. Her comments at Venice suggest that the professional consequences have persisted, even as broader attitudes evolve.