Susan Sarandon says she is losing movie roles due to Palesti

Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon reveals she is facing a professional boycott by major US studios and agencies following her pro-Palestinian activism. Advertisement Business Entertainment Health News Politics Sports Tech & Science World Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon has revealed that she continues to lose movie roles and faces a professional boycott within the United States due to her outspoken support for Palestinians. Speaking on Monday, 7 September 2026, at the Venice Film Festival, the 79-year-old actor described a "power structure" in the film industry that continues to shun her and other critics of Israel, rendering it "impossible" to be hired by major studios. The development highlights a stark divide between shifting public sentiment and industry employment. While Sarandon notes that US opinion polls indicate a softening of support for Israel and rising sympathy for Palestinians since the start of the Gaza war in 2023, she maintains that the institutional machinery of Hollywood — specifically major studios and talent agencies — continues to enforce a blacklist against her activism. Advertisement Related video: Susan Sarandon says she's lost roles over her support of Palestine — watch on YouTube. Key Takeaways Institutional Blacklisting: Sarandon claims agencies are actively instructing employers not to hire her, leading to recent losses of movie roles. Sarandon claims agencies are actively instructing employers not to hire her, leading to recent losses of movie roles. Studio Resistance: The actor identifies major studios as the primary sites of resistance, contrasting this with a more welcoming reception internationally and in Europe. The actor identifies major studios as the primary sites of resistance, contrasting this with a more welcoming reception internationally and in Europe. Agency Severance: United Talent Agency (UTA) dropped Sarandon in 2023 following her remarks at pro-Palestinian rallies shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel. United Talent Agency (UTA) dropped Sarandon in 2023 following her remarks at pro-Palestinian rallies shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel. Shift in Focus: Having found it "impossible" to work in major Hollywood productions, Sarandon has largely pivoted her career toward European cinema, as evidenced by her role in The Echo Chamber . The Mechanics of the 'Power Structure' Sarandon's current professional status is the result of a cascading series of events that began in late 2023. The catalyst was her attendance at pro-Palestinian rallies one month after the Hamas attack on Israel, where she made comments regarding the experiences of Jewish and Muslim people in the US. "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," View this related post on Instagram Advertisement A related public Instagram post. If the embed is unavailable, open it directly on Instagram. Susan Sarandon, actor, via The Guardian Following these remarks, her long-term representation, United Talent Agency (UTA), severed ties with her. By February 2026, Sarandon told Spanish media that she had been "blacklisted" from certain sectors of the industry, noting that it had become "impossible" to appear on television or secure roles in major films connected with Hollywood. Although she subsequently apologized for the specific comments made at the rallies, she remained steadfast in her advocacy for a ceasefire in Gaza. At the Venice Film Festival, Sarandon argued that this professional isolation persists despite a broader cultural awakening. She suggested that the public has become more aware of the financial ties between the United States and Israel, but emphasized that this shift in "narrative" has not yet permeated the hiring practices of the Hollywood elite. Comparative Career Trajectory The evidence suggests a geographic migration of Sarandon's career. While the "power structure" of major US studios remains closed, the European independent circuit has provided a sanctuary. Her presence at the Venice Film Festival is centered on The Echo Chamber , a film adapted from the final screenplay of Bernardo Bertolucci and directed by Andrea Pallaoro. Metric/Entity Details Current Project The Echo Chamber (Competing for the Golden Lion) Role in Project Ageing singer hiring a music producer in recovery Former Agency United Talent Agency (UTA), Dropped in 2023 Key US Credits Dead Man Walking (Oscar winner), Thelma and Louise , Bull Durham , The Rocky Horror Picture Show Industry Status Claims "impossible" to work with major studios; feels welcome internationally Political Tensions at the Venice Film Festival Sarandon's appearance coincides with broader political frictions at the festival. The event has become a flashpoint for pro-Palestinian activism, with more than 100 artists, including Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, signing an open letter urging organizers to increase their support for Palestine. This pressure manifested in calls for the festival to raise the Palestinian flag to honor Palestinian directors screening their work on the Lido. However, artistic director Alberto Barbera has rejected these requests on legal grounds, stating that such a move is impossible because Italy does not formally recognize the state of Palestine. Despite this, Barbera has highlighted that several films in the competition depict the struggles of ordinary Palestinians. The environment of the festival appears to support Sarandon's shift toward European cinema. Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal has argued that films are "unavoidably political," a sentiment that aligns with Sarandon's own refusal to separate her activism from her professional identity. When Sarandon told the press, I found my family, I found my people and I'm OK, the statement was met with prolonged applause from the news conference attendees. UTA dropped Sarandon in 2023 following remarks she made at pro-Palestinian rallies, specifically her comment that some people were "getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country." No. While she claims major US studios and certain agencies have effectively blacklisted her, she continues to work internationally and in Europe, as evidenced by her leading role in the film The Echo Chamber . The film is one of 21 entries competing for the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. The professional trajectory of Susan Sarandon remains tied to the institutional response of the American film industry. All eyes now turn to 12 September, when the winner of the Golden Lion will be announced, a result that could provide significant prestige to Sarandon's European-centric chapter of her career. Advertisement