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The Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon has said she is still losing movie roles due to her support for Palestinians, despite a shift in public opinion against US support for Israel. Speaking at the Venice film festival, where she is promoting her latest movie *The Echo Chamber*, she noted that parts of the film industry continue to shun her over her activism. She explained, "The narrative has completely changed regarding the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties between Zionists, America, and our politics.
People now understand how much money the United States gives to Israel." US opinion polls show that support for Israel has softened, and sympathy for Palestinians has risen since the Gaza war began in 2023. Despite this, Sarandon said her activism continues to affect her career, with recent movies being pulled due to agencies discouraging her hiring. "I’ve still had movies taken away because agencies are telling people not to hire me," she told reporters.
"But that’s the power structure. I feel welcome internationally." Sarandon, an Academy Award winner for *Dead Man Walking*, rose to fame in films like *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, *Bull Durham*, and *Thelma and Louise*. She was dropped by her talent agency UTA in 2023 after remarks made during pro-Palestinian rallies, including: "There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time, and they’re experiencing what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country." The conflict has influenced this year’s Venice film festival, with activists urging organizers to raise the Palestinian flag.
The festival’s artistic director, Alberto Barbera, said this is impossible due to Italy’s lack of formal recognition of Palestine, but noted films depicting Palestinian struggles are being shown. Sarandon emphasized that resistance to hiring outspoken critics of Israel remains strong among major studios. She thanked director Andrea Pallaoro for casting her in *The Echo Chamber*, an adaptation of Bernardo Bertolucci’s screenplay about an aging singer and a recovering drug-addicted music producer.
The film is one of 21 competing for Venice’s Golden Lion award, awarded on 12 September.
Source: The Guardian
