Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon said on September 6, 2026, at the Venice Film Festival that she still loses movie roles because of her outspoken support for Palestinians despite shifting US public opinion against Israel. She spoke while promoting her latest film, The Echo Chamber [1, 2, 3].
Sarandon, 79, said parts of the film industry continue to shun her over her activism. "I've still had movies taken away recently because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still," she said, adding that this reflected the power structure in Hollywood but that she felt welcome internationally [1].
The veteran actress was dropped by her longtime talent agency UTA in 2023 following her remarks at pro-Palestinian rallies soon after the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war [1, 2]. She commented, "If it is a major studio, I think it’s not just with me but with other people who have been told that that is impossible [1]."
Sarandon praised director Andrea Pallaoro for casting her in The Echo Chamber despite resistance from major studios to hire outspoken critics of Israel [1, 2]. She noted that public awareness in the US is growing about the financial and political ties between the US and Israel. "I think that the narrative has completely changed in terms of the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties of Zionists with America and our politics. That has been a major revelation for people, how much money the United States gives to Israel, nobody really understood that," she said [1].
The Venice Film Festival this year has seen controversy as activists called for organizers to raise the Palestinian flag to recognize Palestinian directors screening films. Organizers declined, citing Italy’s lack of formal recognition of Palestine [1, 2].
Sarandon's comments came as the festival continues through early September. She remains actively promoting The Echo Chamber, which opened the event amid ongoing debate about artists’ political views and their impact on film opportunities.
