Susan Sarandon claims she is losing roles due to pro-Palestine stance

Susan Sarandon has claimed that she is still losing out on roles due to her pro-Palestinian views, while promoting her latest movie The Echo Chamber at the Venice Film Festival.

Opinion polls have shown that US support for Israel has dipped in recent months.

"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.

"That has been a major revelation for people, how much money the United States gives to Israel, nobody really ​understood that."

Despite changing public opinion, she still feels like there are barriers to her working in Hollywood, due to 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.

"But that’s the power structure. I think [among] people, certainly internationally, I feel welcome."

Sarandon was dropped by her talent agency UTA in 2023, following comments she made while attending pro-Palestine rallies in the month following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

The Venice film festival has also come under scrutiny after activists called on festival organisers to raise the Palestinian flag to highlight Palestinian directors showcasing films at the event.

The artistic director of the festival, Alberto Barbera, has said this would be impossible, as Italy does not formally recognise the state of Palestine.

Susan Sarandon earned an Academy Award in 1996 for her role in Dead Man Walking. She is known for her performances in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Thelma and Louise, and Little Women.

Her upcoming film, The Echo Chamber, is directed by Andrea Pallaoro and adapted from the final screenplay by Bernardo Bertolucci. Sarandon stars as an ageing singer who hires a music producer in recovery from drug addiction to produce a comeback album.

The Echo Chamber is one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion Award, which will be presented on September 12.