Susan Sarandon says her outspoken calls for a ceasefire in Gaza upended her U.S. career. Speaking in Barcelona on Feb. 27 before receiving an International Goya award, the actress said her American agency dropped her and that mainstream film and television work in the U.S. became much harder to get. Rather than retreat quietly, she says she turned toward European stages and independent films.
A professional and political pivot
Sarandon describes the change as both practical and political: after attending pro‑Palestine rallies and publicly urging a ceasefire, she believes industry figures began to distance themselves. That, she says, translated into fewer offers from Hollywood and a loss of television work. Rather than wait for things to return to normal, she accepted projects in the U.K. and Italy and embraced indie directors who offered creative freedom.
Her recent and upcoming projects illustrate that shift. She spent months performing at London’s Old Vic, filmed an Italian project called The Echo Chamber alongside Alicia Vikander, and is attached to the U.S. indie The Accompanist, the directorial debut of actor Zach Woods. Sarandon also recounted an Italian director who hired her despite warnings from others — a small anecdote that hints at still‑present informal pressures within the industry.
Politics, policy and a new legislative focus
Sarandon used her Barcelona platform to praise Spanish artists and politicians — including Javier Bardem — for their public support of Palestinians, contrasting that openness with what she described as a more constrained atmosphere in the United States. She also broadened her remarks to criticize U.S. immigration enforcement, calling ICE “unconstitutional” and highlighting what she described as abuses against Black and brown communities.
Her comments arrived amid a broader debate in Washington over how to attach accountability to U.S. military assistance. Representative Sean Casten has introduced the Ceasefire Compliance Act, which would require the U.S. government to issue 90‑day compliance reports checking whether Israel is honoring ceasefires, allowing humanitarian access, refraining from annexation in the West Bank, and curbing settler violence. If those reports document violations, certain transfers of offensive weapons to Israel for use in Gaza or the West Bank could be paused.
Diverging reactions and intense lobbying
The bill has split opinion. Supporters, including groups like J Street and some human‑rights organizations, argue that routine reporting would create clear, enforceable benchmarks and link U.S. assistance to observable behavior. Progressive critics and pro‑Palestine advocates say the measure is too weak — pointing to an executive waiver provision that could let transfers continue despite congressional objections. Meanwhile, AIPAC and other opponents have lobbied strongly against the bill, warning it could undermine a key security partnership and duplicate existing oversight.
Lobbying pressure has been significant on both sides: defense contractors and pro‑security groups have warned lawmakers about the operational risks of restrictions, while humanitarian and civil‑society organizations have pushed for tighter, report‑driven accountability. Expect amendments, floor negotiations and efforts to tighten — or loosen — enforcement language as the bill moves through Congress.
What this means for artists and institutions
Sarandon’s story is a concrete example of how public advocacy can alter a performer’s career path. Agents, studios and festival programmers continually balance audience sentiment, reputational risk and commercial considerations; when a high‑profile figure takes a divisive stand, the marketplace often responds. For some artists that means shifting toward international, arthouse or independent projects where creative choices are broader and the commercial calculus is different.
For advocates and policy wonks, the Ceasefire Compliance Act highlights the tradeoffs lawmakers face: how to craft conditions that actually change behavior without creating loopholes or undermining diplomatic flexibility. Administrative waivers and the precise triggers for penalties will be battleground issues.
Practical takeaways
– For artists: be aware that public positions can carry professional consequences. Some mitigate risk by diversifying markets, working with international or indie producers, or focusing on theater and festival circuits. – For advocates and legislators: the language matters. Enforcement mechanisms, waiver provisions and reporting requirements will determine whether a law has teeth or is largely symbolic. – For observers: watch how lobbying shapes amendments and floor votes. The fight over transparency and accountability will likely continue and evolve as the bill moves forward.
A professional and political pivot
Sarandon describes the change as both practical and political: after attending pro‑Palestine rallies and publicly urging a ceasefire, she believes industry figures began to distance themselves. That, she says, translated into fewer offers from Hollywood and a loss of television work. Rather than wait for things to return to normal, she accepted projects in the U.K. and Italy and embraced indie directors who offered creative freedom.0