Susan Sarandon: ‘I’d love a West End role but I can’t do an English accent’

On the lookout: Susan Sarandon is keen for a starring tole in the West End
Getty Images for Prada
Alistair Foster7 December 2017
The Weekender

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Susan Sarandon is on the lookout for a West End role — but says she’d have to play an American as she would struggle with an English accent.

The actress, 71, has never starred on the London stage and has not appeared in a theatre production since 2009.

She says she tends to choose roles that do not separate her from her family, who include her sons Miles, 25, and Jack, 28, and daughter Eva Amurri, 32, who has two children of her own. All live near her home city of New York.

She said: “It’s hard for me to be separated for long periods of time from my kids and my grandkids.

Susan Sarandon appears in Chapter Two of Mercedes-Benz’s #mbcollective Fashion Story

"My mother is 94. It’s one thing if something happens and you’re in a film — you can always come back. But it always gives me pause to be in London for too long. I was actually talking about doing something in London, but then it conflicted with [her Sky Atlantic TV series] Ray Donovan. I’m keeping my eye open.

"I also definitely don’t want to do an English accent — that’s not something I’m crazy enough to try to do. It would have to be an American part.

"I have done an English accent before, but just not in an entire country full of that accent!”

Sarandon, who rose to prominence in the Seventies, earned five Oscar nominations before winning best actress in 1996.

She said: “What has changed is that there are more women who are able to green-light projects. They are telling more stories that involve women.”

She was one of the first stars to speak out against disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, 65, and says it is vital that “sexual bullying isn’t seen as something you need to go through”.

She added: “I’ve had instances — like any woman does — where someone came on to me. But when I said ‘no’ it wasn’t a problem. So I didn’t experience any of the humiliation tactics that have formed the basis of the worst cases.

“In the Seventies in Hollywood, are you kidding? Everyone was sleeping with everyone. But it wasn’t necessarily against anybody’s will. I have been bullied by Harvey Weinstein’s team but in terms of business. Never sexual.”

Sarandon appears in Chapter Two of Mercedes-Benz’s #mbcollective Fashion Story, featuring its Concept EQ electric car.

She said: “I got involved because Mercedes are taking the time to be forward-thinking.”

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