Susan Sarandon says she still loses movie roles over Palestine support

Susan Sarandon was met with prolonged applause from reporters and attendees at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday, September 7, 2026, after declaring I found my family, I found my people and I’m OK. The warm reception in Italy served as a contrast to the actress's description of her standing in the American film industry, where she claims major studios still consider it impossible to hire her due to her public support for Palestine.

The Oscar winner asserts that while the general public's understanding of the conflict has evolved, a rigid power structure within Hollywood continues to block her employment. Sarandon alleges that certain talent agencies are actively instructing producers not to cast her, a mechanism she says has led to the recent loss of movie roles.

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The Agency 'Power Structure'

During a press conference for the film The Echo Chamber, Sarandon detailed a systemic effort to limit her opportunities. Speaking to Deadline, she stated she has had movies taken away recently because agencies are advising against her employment. She noted this resistance is not limited to her, suggesting other critics of Israel have been told that securing work at major studios is impossible.

This professional friction began in 2023 when United Talent Agency (UTA) terminated its contract with Sarandon. The split followed her attendance at pro-Palestinian rallies shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel. At those events, Sarandon remarked,

"There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country,"

Susan Sarandon, via The Guardian

While Ijr reports that Sarandon later apologized for those rally remarks, she maintains that the industry's internal stance has not relaxed.

The professional fallout has been sustained for the 79-year-old actress, whose career includes an Academy Award for Dead Man Walking and prominent roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bull Durham, and Thelma and Louise. The contrast between her international welcome and domestic isolation highlights a divide she attributes to the influence of Zionists within the film industry.

Geopolitical Friction and Industry Tension

Sarandon views her exclusion as a symptom of a disconnect between American leadership and a shifting public narrative. She told Deadline that a major revelation has occurred regarding the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties of Zionists with America and its politics.

As evidence of this shift, Sarandon pointed to the scale of U.S. Financial aid to Israel and the July 22 approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the U.S. House of Representatives. Sarandon argued that Section 219 of the act effectively combines the U.S. Army with the army of Israel. While supporters of the legislation say this is categorically not the case and that it strengthens a strategic partnership, critics claim it merges the two militaries.

This tension is not isolated to Sarandon. According to Deadline, Paramount accused actor Mark Ruffalo of using antisemitic tropes in a post regarding the Paramount-WBD merger and Oracle's supply of technology during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The friction extended to the festival's administration. Activists requested that the Palestinian flag be raised to recognize Palestinian directors in the selection, but Artistic Director Alberto Barbera denied the request, stating it was impossible because Italy does not officially recognize Palestine as a state.

Sarandon's appearance in The Echo Chamber was only possible because director Andrea Pallaoro chose to ignore the warnings provided by the industry's power structure. In the film, Sarandon plays Ava, an aging singer who employs a music producer struggling with drug addiction.

This professional isolation persists despite data reported by The Guardian and GMANetwork showing that U.S. Opinion polls indicate sympathy for Palestinians has risen and support for Israel has softened since the Gaza war began in 2023.

The immediate professional outcome for Sarandon and the production depends on the festival's competitive results. The final trigger for the production is the presentation of the Golden Lion award, scheduled for September 12.

While Sarandon expresses confidence in her international welcome, she remains at odds with the major studio system. The persistence of these industry warnings suggests that despite shifted public opinions reported by The Guardian, the internal mechanisms of Hollywood's power structure remain unchanged for those who vocalize support for Palestine.