Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon stated that she is still losing movie roles because of her outspoken support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza. Speaking at a press conference at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, the 79-year-old actor said that certain talent agencies continue to instruct industry figures not to hire her.
Susan Sarandon Says Career Continues to Face Professional Consequences Over Palestine Stance
I've still had movies taken away recently, because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still,
Sarandon told reporters, adding that resistance remains particularly strong among major studios and individuals in the industry holding strongly held positions. Despite these professional hurdles, she noted, I think [among] the people, certainly internationally, I feel welcome.
Background on Agency Drop and 2023 Rally Remarks
Sarandon’s professional fallout with major representation began in November 2023, when she was dropped as a client by the United Talent Agency following remarks she made at a pro-Palestinian rally one month after the Hamas attack on Israel. At the gathering, she told attendees, 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, so often subjected to violence.
She later issued a public apology for the comments, acknowledging that her phrasing was a terrible mistake
because it implied that Jewish people had not historically faced persecution. In subsequent months, Sarandon noted that she lost work and became estranged from friends and family, mentioning during a conversation at the Spanish Film Academy’s Goya Awards in March that she was fired by her agency specifically for marching, speaking out about Gaza, and asking for a ceasefire.
Venice Film Festival Appearance and ‘The Echo Chamber’
Sarandon attended the Venice Film Festival to promote her latest movie, The Echo Chamber, an Italian film adapted from the final screenplay by filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci. In the movie, she plays an aging singer who hires a recovering music producer to work on a comeback album. The project is competing for the festival’s Golden Lion award.
During the press conference, Sarandon thanked the film’s director, Andrea Pallaoro, for casting her despite warnings against hiring her. I found my family, I found my people and I’m OK,
she said, drawing prolonged applause.
Shifting Public Narrative and Wider Industry Context
During her remarks in Venice, Sarandon argued that the broader public narrative surrounding the conflict has evolved. 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,
she said, pointing to growing awareness regarding the scale of United States financial and military aid to Israel.
The broader conflict has heavily influenced the current Venice event, where activists have called on organizers to raise the Palestinian flag. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera noted that doing so is impossible because Italy does not formally recognize the state of Palestine, though he highlighted that several films on the Lido focus on the struggles of ordinary Palestinians.
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