According to a report by the British newspaper The Guardian on September 7, Oscar winner Susan Saridan has revealed that she has still lost many job opportunities due to her public support for Palestine. However, she also pointed out that there has been a broader shift in public opinion in the United States, with more and more people beginning to oppose the United States' support for Israel.
Sarandjen said during the Venice Film Festival promotion of her new film 'The Echo Chamber' that some people in the film industry still reject her because of her "political advocacy".
Sarandin, who won an Oscar for his role in "The Death Row" is well-known for his appearances in films such as "Rocky Horror Show", "One Million Dollar Arm", and "Pretty Woman".
She said, “The narrative surrounding Palestine’s historical significance, and the connection between Zionism and U.S. politics, has completely changed. Nowadays, many people realize just how staggering the amount of funding that the United States provides to Israel is—something that was almost unknown in the past.”
U.S. polls show that since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023, support for Israel has weakened within the United States, while sympathy for Palestinians has been on the rise.
But this 79-year-old actress said that her support for Palestine still continues to influence her career.
She told reporters, “Until recently, there were still film projects that were cancelled, because some agents warned others not to hire me. The power structure is indeed this way. But among the people—at least internationally—I can still feel acceptance.”
In 2023, one month after Hamas attacked Israel, she attended a rally in support of Palestinians. During her speech, she said, “At this time, many people are afraid that they are Jews. They have finally tasted what it is like to be Muslims in the United States.” After that, her long-term agency UTA terminated their contract with her.
Oscar-winning actor Javier Barden, who has starred in "No Country for Old Men" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," also wore a badge supporting Palestine at the 2026 Oscars ceremony and made a public statement. In an interview later, he revealed that this led to him losing film projects and brand collaboration opportunities that he might have had. Barden is open about his stance, believing that this reveals the flaws in the Hollywood system. He also mentioned that Susan Saradon was one of the first people who faced such consequences.
This conflict also spread to this year’s Venice Film Festival. Activists called on the organizers to raise Palestinian flags in recognition of the Palestinian directors whose works were screened at the festival.
Film Festival Artistic Director Alberto Barbare responded that since Italy does not officially recognize the Palestinian State, this move is not feasible. However, he also pointed out that the films shown on Lido Island 'showed the struggles of ordinary Palestinians.'
Salandden said that major studios are particularly reluctant to hire people who openly criticize Israel. "In big studios, people like me who openly criticize Israel are clearly rejected. This is not just my experience; colleagues who hold the same views are also barred from entering these studios."
She also thanked the director of "Echo Room," Andrea Palao, for choosing her to star in the film: "I found understanding and acceptance among independent filmmakers and international movie fans. I'm quite happy." These words led to long applause at the press conference.
