Too politically engaged, Susan Sarandon says she has fewer and fewer offers in Hollywood
A longtime activist figure, the 79-year-old actress says her political stances continue to cost her roles in the United States, including her support for the Palestinians and her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She is one of the most politically engaged actresses in Hollywood. And for several decades, Susan Sarandon has not hesitated to take a public stand, against the war in Iraq, in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement or, more recently, in favor of Palestinian rights. But over the years, this activism seems to have more and more concrete consequences on his career.
During a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, where she presented her new film The Echo Chamberthe actress explained that some agencies would continue to advise productions against hiring her.
“I’ve been getting pulled from films again recently, because some agencies are still telling people not to hire me… But it’s the powers that be.”
Susan Sarandon believes in particular that her positions on the situation in Gaza have reinforced the reluctance of American industry towards her. Asked in Venice about the evolution of the view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the attacks of October 7, 2023 and the war that followed, she estimated that “the story had completely changed” and that the public was now more informed about the situation.
The actress nevertheless claims to continue to be welcomed with open arms abroad.
The Echo Chamber is also an Italian production, directed by Andrea Pallaoro and written by Bernardo Bertolucci before his death in 2018.
“I certainly feel welcome internationallyconfided Sarandon, before thanking the director for agreeing to work with her despite the warnings he may have received. “He didn’t listen to the warnings.”
The actress thus believes that things have evolved in public opinion, but that certain positions remain deeply anchored within the American industry.
“There are still very strong positions within my industry, from Zionists and people who have not changed their feelings towards me.“
Her activism had already cost her dearly in 2023. United Talent Agency then ended its collaboration with the actress, who explained that she had been dismissed “for demonstrating and speaking out on Gaza, for calling for a ceasefire”. She claimed at the time that he had become “impossible” even to be on television.
