Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon stated at the Venice Film Festival that she continues to lose film roles due to her public support for Palestine, noting that major studios and talent agencies remain resistant to casting outspoken critics of Israel despite shifting public opinion.
The cultural fallout from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has followed actors and public figures onto international red carpets. Speaking to reporters at the Venice Film Festival during promotions for her upcoming feature The Echo Chamber, the 79-year-old performer addressed the professional friction that has shadowed her career since late 2023.
Sarandon pointed to a stark divide between international audiences and industry gatekeepers, describing a persistent barrier erected by major film studios and powerful agencies.
Professional Repercussions and Studio Resistance
While public polling in the United States indicates a softening of support for Israel and rising sympathy for Palestinians since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023, Sarandon asserted that Hollywood’s upper echelons have not mirrored that cultural pivot.
“I’ve still had movies taken away recently because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still.”
Susan Sarandon, via The Guardian
She elaborated that institutional opposition remains particularly concentrated within the major studio system. According to the reporting from Deadline, Sarandon noted that other artists have similarly faced informal blacklists, being warned that casting them on major projects is considered impossible.
The consequences for Sarandon’s career intensified in November 2023, when she was dropped by her longstanding representation at United Talent Agency following controversial comments made at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City’s Union Square. Sarandon subsequently issued a public apology in December 2023.
Political Shifts and Venice Festival Friction
During the press conference, Sarandon broadened her analysis beyond her individual casting difficulties to examine changing U.S. political alignments regarding the Middle East. She highlighted public revelations concerning the scale of U.S. financial assistance to Israel, as well as legislative developments in Washington.
Her remarks touched upon the U.S.
The geopolitical tension also permeated the Venice Lido itself. Activists at the festival pushed organizers to raise the Palestinian flag to honor Palestinian directors participating in the lineup. Festival Artistic Director Alberto Barbera explained that displaying the flag was not feasible because Italy does not formally recognize the state of Palestine, though he emphasized that the festival’s programming features several works documenting the daily struggles of ordinary Palestinians.
Finding Support in Independent Cinema
Despite industry pushback, Sarandon praised director Andrea Pallaoro for ignoring warnings and casting her in The Echo Chamber. Adapted from the final screenplay by Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, the film stars Sarandon as an aging singer alongside co-stars Alicia Vikander and Luca Marinelli.
The project stands as one of 21 features competing for the Golden Lion award at the festival.
“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 towards me, but I found my family, I found my people, and I’m OK.”
Susan Sarandon, via The Hollywood Reporter
