Susan Sarandon has confessed that her outspoken support for Palestine continues to cost her acting opportunities, despite what she describes as a significant shift in public perception of the conflict in Gaza.
The 79-year-old Academy Award winner, speaking at the Venice Film Festival this week, said she remains persona non grata with certain industry figures who have been warned against employing her by agencies and other gatekeepers.
“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,” she told reporters. “But that’s the power structure. I think within the people, certainly internationally, I feel welcome.”
Sarandon was attending the prestigious festival to promote her latest project, The Echo, in which she portrays Ava, a singer-songwriter attempting a comeback with the help of a music producer grappling with his own demons. The film marks her latest collaboration with director Andrea Pallaoro, whom she publicly thanked for disregarding industry pressure.
“I’ve found my family, I’ve found my people, and I’m ok,” she said, visibly emotional during the press conference.
A Career Defined by Conviction
Throughout her six-decade career, Sarandon has never shied away from controversy. Her political activism spans movements from anti-war protests during the Vietnam era to recent demonstrations supporting Palestinian rights.
She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking (1995), a film that tackled capital punishment and earned her critical acclaim. Earlier roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and The Witches of Eastwick (1987) cemented her status as a cult favourite and mainstream star alike.
Yet her willingness to speak truth to power has occasionally placed her at odds with Hollywood’s establishment, something she acknowledges comes with the territory of holding firm convictions.
“The narrative has completely changed in terms of the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties of Zionists with America in our politics,” she observed, suggesting growing international awareness of the Palestinian cause. “But some people are still not willing to cross certain lines.”
Her comments arrive amid heightened scrutiny of artists who publicly support Palestine, with many reporting professional repercussions for their views.
A Farewell to Tim Curry
Beyond the festival’s red carpet, Sarandon took time to pay tribute to her Rocky Horror co-star Tim Curry, who died last month at the age of 80 following a battle with coronary artery disease.
In an emotional Instagram post, she shared memories of their decades-long friendship, describing Curry as “funny, sexy, [and] original.”
“What I loved about him most was his heart,” she wrote alongside a carousel of photographs capturing their friendship through the years. “Even wheelchair bound he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans.”
Curry’s health had declined following a stroke in 2013, though he continued acting when able. According to documents from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health obtained by People magazine, the beloved character actor also suffered from kidney cancer, both of which contributed to his death.
“Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people,” Sarandon concluded. “Love you, S.”
Why It Matters
Sarandon’s candid admission illuminates a troubling reality lurking beneath Hollywood’s veneer of progressive values: artists who take public stances on geopolitical issues, particularly those deemed controversial by powerful interests, frequently face professional retaliation. While public opinion on the Gaza conflict has evolved considerably, the industry’s decision-makers appear slower to adapt, raising questions about artistic freedom and the price of conscience in an entertainment landscape increasingly shaped by commercial pressures and political lobbying. Her persistence in speaking out, despite measurable career consequences, underscores the tension between celebrity activism and the systems that grant celebrities their platforms in the first place.
