Veteran actress Susan Sarandon says her outspoken support for a Gaza ceasefire has cost her work in the U.S. film industry, describing what she sees as growing “repression and censorship” in the country’s entertainment sector.
Speaking on Feb. 27 ahead of receiving the International Goya award from the Spanish Film Academy, Sarandon detailed the professional fallout she says followed her public comments at a pro-Palestine rally in New York in 2023. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 28 in Barcelona.
“I was fired by my agency, specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza, for asking for a ceasefire,” Sarandon said.
“It became impossible for me to even be on television. I don’t know lately if it’s changed. I couldn’t do any major film or anything connected with Hollywood. I found agents ultimately in England and in Italy, and I work there. I just did a film in Italy, and I did a play at the Old Vic for a number of months. I know this Italian director that just hired me — he was told not to hire me, so that’s still recently. He didn’t listen, but they had that conversation. Right now, I kind of specialize in tiny films with directors who have never directed, in independent films,” she added.
Sarandon, known for her Academy Award-winning role in Dead Man Walking and performances in Thelma & Louise and Atlantic City, said she ultimately sought representation overseas after struggling to secure major film roles in the United States. She added that she recently completed a film project in Italy and appeared on stage at The Old Vic in London.
Her remarks come amid broader debate in Hollywood over free speech, political activism, and career consequences tied to public positions on the Israel-Gaza conflict. High-profile talent agencies and studios have faced scrutiny over how they handle public statements by actors and filmmakers on sensitive geopolitical issues.
Sarandon also compared the cultural climate in the United States to that of Spain, praising what she described as stronger public support for open discussion about Gaza.
“In a place where you feel repression and censorship, to see Spain and to see the president and what he says and the support that he’s giving about Gaza, and to have actors like Javier Bardem come forward with such a strong voice, is so important to us in the United States,” she said.
Sarandon was dropped by talent agency UTA in 2023 after speaking at a pro-Palestine rally in New York City. At the time, the decision drew attention within entertainment industry news circles and reignited discussions about celebrity activism and Hollywood politics.
The full discussion was reported by Reuters.
This article was originally published on Townflex.