Susan Sarandon has revealed that her political beliefs continue to influence her professional life.
The 79-year-old actress – who previously said she was blacklisted for pro-Palestinian comments – was asked at the Venice Film Festival whether the ‘tides [are] change’ in show business.
She responded in part, “In terms of the power structure. I’ve still had films taken away lately because there are agencies telling people not to still hire me. But that’s the power structure,” he says People.
On the other hand, she said, “I think the story has completely changed. There are a lot of things that people are aware of now.”
Sarandon said in Italy on Sunday: ‘I feel welcome, especially internationally. So it depends. If it’s a big studio, I think that’s not just me, but other people… who have been told that’s impossible.”
The Hollywood vet is at the annual festival to promote her new film The Echo Chamber, directed by Andrea Pallaoro.
Susan Sarandon has revealed that her political beliefs continue to influence her professional life
The 79-year-old actress – who previously said she was blacklisted for pro-Palestinian comments – was asked at the Venice Film Festival whether the ‘tides [are] change’ in show business; pictured at an anti-ICE protest in New York City in January
Referring to the film, she continued: “As far as making this film goes, I thank Andrea for that, because he didn’t listen to the warnings.
“So I think, yes, there has been a change in the understanding of the situation, and I think the general public, but there are still very strong positions within my sector, which are held by Zionists and [those] who have not relaxed their feelings towards me. But I found my family, I found my people, and I’m doing well.”
Earlier this year, Sarandon spoke out about her alleged placement on the industry blacklist due to pro-Palestinian comments she made during Israel’s continued attacks on Gaza.
At a March press conference in Barcelona, Spain, she recalled being dropped by her talent agency after calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“I was fired by my agency specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza – for asking for a ceasefire – and it became impossible for me to even appear on television,” she said ahead of the 40th Goya Awards.
‘I don’t know if it’s changed lately, [but] “I couldn’t do any big movies, anything that has to do with Hollywood,” she said.
Sarandon said even foreign filmmakers were urged not to work with her.
“This Italian director who just hired me was told not to hire me,” she noted. ‘So that’s still recent. He wasn’t listening, but they had that conversation.”
She responded in part, “In terms of the power structure. I’ve still been having films pulled lately because there are agencies telling people not to still hire me’; pictured at a pro-Palestine rally in New York City in November 2023
LR The Echo Chamber director Andrea Pallaoro, actress Alicia Vikander, Sarandon and actor Luca Marinelli pictured on Sunday
Sarandon pictured alongside Stepmom co-star Julia Roberts in 1998
The Rocky Horror Picture Show star claimed in late 2023 that Jewish people “got a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim” during the war with Hamas during a rally in New York City.
She subsequently apologized for her comment, explaining that she had not planned to speak at the meeting, but that she had been invited to address the crowd and that she intended to “highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
In an interview with The Times of London in late 2024, Sarandon reflected on how the controversy led to her agent’s departure and how she is no longer able to star in mainstream studio films.
She told the publication: ‘I was dropped by my agency, my projects were pulled. I’ve been used as an example of what not to do if you want to keep working.
“There are so many people out of work right now since November of last year… who have lost their jobs as administrators, as writers, as painters, as people who work in the cafeteria, as substitute teachers who have been fired because they tweeted something, liked a tweet, or asked for a ceasefire.”
When asked if she would ever be offered another major film role, she replied: ‘I don’t know. Nothing in Hollywood.”
