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Susan Sarandon Says She’s ‘Still Had Movies Taken Away Recently’ Over Palestine Support: ‘There Are Agencies That Are Telling People Not to Hire Me’
Confirmed
In Short: Susan Sarandon, the veteran actress, has expressed ongoing frustration over roles being taken away from her due to her public support of Palestine.
Susan Sarandon, the veteran actress, has expressed ongoing frustration over roles being taken away from her due to her public support of Palestine. Speaking at the 2026 Venice Film Festival, Sarandon revealed that agencies are still advising studios not to hire her, despite a shift in public awareness about the U.S. support of Israel.
The Thelma and Louise star, who was dropped by United Talent Agency (UTA) in 2023 after attending rallies in support of Palestine, has faced a significant drop in film opportunities. Sarandon noted that while the narrative around U.S. support for Israel has changed, strong positions within the industry remain hostile to her views.
Festival Artistic Director Alberto Barbera stated that Palestine is not officially recognized as a state by Italy, which complicates Sarandon's ability to work on major studio projects. However, she highlighted that her co-director, Andrea Pallaoro, was able to proceed with her despite the challenges.
Sarandon emphasized that the public's understanding of the situation has evolved, particularly regarding the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties between Zionists and American politics. She also pointed to the approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as a significant revelation for many.
Despite the changes in public perception, Sarandon remains optimistic about her career. She stated, 'I’ve found my family, I’ve found my people, and I’m ok.' This sentiment was echoed in her comments about her upcoming film, 'The Echo Chamber,' where she plays a singer-songwriter who hires a music producer with a history of drug addiction for her comeback album.
Sarandon's comments reflect a broader debate within the film industry about the intersection of politics and artistic freedom. While she feels more support from the international community, she still faces significant obstacles in Hollywood, where her outspoken views continue to impact her career.
What's confirmed
- “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. I think within the people, certainly internationally, I feel welcome,” she said in response to a question from Deadline.
- So I think yes, there has been a change in terms of understanding of the situation and, I think, the general public, but there are still very strongly held positions within my industry that are held by Zionists and who have not relaxed their feelings toward me.
What's still developing
- “How much money the United States gives to Israel. Nobody really understood that. 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,” she said Her comments on the combining of the U.S. army with that of Israel were in reference to the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on July 22, Section 219 of which controversially expands U.S.-Israel defense technology cooperation.
- Susan Sarandon spoke candidly about her politically fraught relationship to Hollywood while at the 2026 Venice Film Festival promoting the film “ The Echo Chamber.” The majority Italian production is directed by Andrea Pallaoro and co-stars Luca Marinelli and Alicia Vikander, adapting filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci’s last script he wrote before he died.
- If it’s a major studio, I think there is, not just with me, but with other people that have been told that that is impossible in terms of being able to do this film.
- Sarandon stars in the romantic drama, which was Bernardo Bertolucci’s final screenplay, alongside Luca Marinelli and Alicia Vikander.
- Sarandon added: "I’ve found my family, I’ve found my people, and I’m ok." The actress featured in The Witches Of Eastwick (1987), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Dead Man Walking (1995), winning an Oscar for best actress in a leading role for the latter.
- "There's a lot of things that people are aware of now," the Oscar winner told a press conference, referring to the extent of US financial and military aid for Israel.
- Sarandon was dropped by United Talent Agency for telling a rally that Jewish Americans were "getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country" because of rising anti-Semitic violence.
- She issued a public apology, saying her choice of words had been a "terrible mistake" because they implied "that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true".