New Delhi: Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon has said she is still losing film roles because of her support for Palestine. Three years ago, her talent agency dropped her over comments she made at a pro-Palestine rally.
Speaking at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday, Sarandon said she believed people now understand much more about Palestine and the relationship between the US and Israel than they did in 2023. However, this had not changed how major studios in Hollywood still treat actors who spoke about the issue, she added.
“I think the narrative has completely changed. In terms of the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties of Zionists with America and our politics, that has been a major revelation for people. How much money the United States gives to Israel, nobody really understood that,” Sarandon said. “And also now we have voted to combine the army of the United States with the army of Israel. So there’s a lot of things that people are aware of now. So that has changed,” she added.
However, she said she was still losing work.
“In terms of the power structure, I’ve still had movies taken away recently because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still. But that’s the power structure,” Sarandon said.
She added that she still felt welcome internationally, but getting roles in major studio films remained difficult for her and for other actors who had spoken publicly about Palestine.
She also said that Andrea Pallaoro, the director of the upcoming film The Echo Chamber (2026) had been warned against hiring her.
“In terms of doing this film, I thank Andrea for that, because he didn’t listen to the warnings,” Sarandon said.
Sarandon was in Venice for the Venice Film Festival where The Echo Chamber was set to premiere. The film, starring Luca Marinelli and Alicia Vikander, follows Leo and Anne, a couple whose relationship becomes increasingly dependent and controlling.
The film is based on the last screenplay by Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, written with Ilaria Bernardini and Ludovica Rampoldi, and is competing for the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
Sarandon was dropped by the United Talent Agency (UTA) in November 2023 after she attended several pro-Palestine demonstrations. At a rally in New York, she said Jewish Americans who were afraid at the time were “getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country”.
UTA later confirmed that it was no longer representing her.