Susan Sarandon is opening up about the professional consequences she says she has faced for speaking publicly about her political beliefs. At the 2026 Venice Film Festival, the Oscar-winning actress claimed that films have still been “taken away” from her because of her outspoken views, particularly her support for Palestine.

Sarandon’s comments came while she was promoting her latest film, The Echo Chamber, at the festival. Although she said she feels increasingly welcomed internationally, she suggested that Hollywood’s power structure has been slower to change, with agencies allegedly continuing to discourage people from hiring her.

During a September 6 press conference, Susan Sarandon was asked whether she believed the mood within Hollywood had shifted as public discussion around Gaza and Palestine evolved. She said she has noticed a significant change in the broader public conversation, particularly around the historical relationship between Palestine, the United States and Israel.

However, Susan Sarandon argued that this change has not necessarily reached every part of the entertainment industry. She claimed that she has recently lost film opportunities because agencies have allegedly told people not to hire her. She also said that major studios remain particularly difficult territory, while emphasizing that she has nevertheless found support within the international film community.

The actress also credited The Echo Chamber director Andrea Pallaoro for casting her despite what she described as warnings against working with her. Sarandon's remarks add another chapter to the controversy surrounding her political activism, which intensified after she spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York in 2023 and was subsequently dropped by her longtime agency UTA. She later apologized for comments she described as a mistake in phrasing.Movi

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While Sarandon has seen a shift in the public conversation around Palestine, she says Hollywood’s power structure has been slower to change.

While The Echo Chamber focuses primarily on the complicated relationship between Anne and Leonardo, Sarandon’s Ava provides a different kind of emotional counterpoint. Her character is an established artist whose experience gives her a perspective on love, loss and the choices people make.

The film has also drawn attention for its visual approach. Its single-location setting is transformed through detailed production design and carefully composed cinematography, while Pallaoro maintains a restrained tone for much of the story.

Susan Sarandon’s performance has been singled out as an enlivening part of the film, with Ava May’s musical presence giving the story another dimension. Her character’s relationship with Leonardo ultimately emerges as one of the film’s more unusual connections, adding depth beyond the central romance.

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What do you think about Susan Sarandon’s claims that her political views have cost her film roles? Share your thoughts in the comments!