Susan Sarandon is best known for her work as an actress, as well as being incredibly vocal about social issues and activism. She has been in an array of films and television shows and has been honored with plenty of awards and accolades over her several decades in the entertainment industry. The star has also made an impact on stage, both on and off Broadway.
Sarandon was born on Oct. 4, 1946, in New York City, New York. During her school years, she found a love for performing and began acting, dancing and playing musical instruments. It was clear that she had talent from the start, and it only got stronger as she made her way into adulthood.
The actress first found her footing in the acting industry when she landed a role in the drama film “Joe” in 1970. Shortly after, she went on to appear on television before later starring as Janet Weiss in the musical comedy horror film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
She’s been in several other notable films, including “The Witches of Eastwick and “James and the Giant Peach.” However, to this day, one of Sarandon’s most recognized films is the 1991 movie “Thelma & Louise,” in which she starred alongside Geena Davis.
In her personal life, Sarandon has been married and divorced once and has also had three highly publicized romances. She also has three children, with her eldest being born when she was 39 years old and her youngest being born when she was 45. The actress has continued to open up about becoming a mother at this age.
Susan Sarandon (2022), (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Christian Siriano)
It’s safe to say that the hit 1991 movie “Thelma & Louise” will always be a stand-out in Sarandon’s repertoire. The movie is about two friends who embark on a road trip and end up with more than they bargained for. The supporting cast includes Brad Pitt in one of his first major film roles.
When asked what it was like filming the iconic driving sequences from the movie, Sarandon told the Hollywood Reporter, “It was really fun, especially in the desert. What I learned is that you do your best acting when you’re really just trying to drive a car and you’re not thinking about anything and getting the shots lined up. I was driving pretty fast by the time we finished the movie.”
Sarandon mentioned in the same interview what her expectations were for the film’s reception. “You saw ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?’ I thought this was a cowboy (movie) with women and trucks and it’s going to be a lot of fun, Ridley (Scott) is a great director and it’s a fun script,” she recalled. Sarandon and Davis quickly went on to become role models for young girls.
Sarandon has continued to inspire women ever since. In 2011, she spoke about her journey with endometriosis and how no woman should have to miss out on something because of the pain she’s in due to this condition. “When all you know is pain you don’t know that that is not normal,” she said. “It is not a woman’s lot to suffer, even if we’ve been raised that way. It is not OK to miss a part of your life because of pain…”
