She recently opened up about the ageism and sexism she has faced in Hollywood over the decades – and was even told her career would be over by the age of 40.
And Susan Sarandon continued to show that she’s still very much the celebrated screen star as she stepped out in London in chic style to promote her documentary on late Tinseltown film icon Hedy Lamarr.
The 71-year-old actress looked casually cool in a plunging black jumpsuit, which boasted a zip-up feature at the front, which she teamed with a flowing white coat, as she arrived at the BBC Radio Two studios for an interview with Steve Wright.
On the promotional trail: Susan Sarandon was spotted out and about in London on Wednesday afternoon, as she promoted her new documentary Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
Keeping her feet comfortable in a pair of off-white brogues, the Oscar-winning star wore her lustrous red hair in voluminous curls, while she shielded her eyes behind a pair of fashionable sunglasses.
For her interview to promote Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, Susan was joined by the film’s director Alexandra Dean and they both spoke about the Austrian-born actress, who was also a highly intelligent secret inventor.
Susan, who served as an executive producer on the project, said: ‘There’s two reasons why I was interested in this story.
The Wright Stuff: The veteran screen star was helped out out a chauffeur-driven vehicle as she made her way to the BBC Radio two studios for an interview with Steve Wright
Stepping out in casually cool style: The 71-year-old actress looked casually cool in a plunging black jumpsuit, which boasted a zip-up feature at the front
Tress-ed to impress: The Oscar-winning star wore her lustrous red hair in voluminous curls, while she shielded her eyes behind a pair of fashionable sunglasses
‘The first one was this amazing, scientific life, but the other one is, what did Hollywood do to people – to women – because of its ageism? She did fall prey to believing that her worth had to do with being the most beautiful woman in the world.
‘And when they were devaluing her, she did all of this surgery that ended up ruining her face. In her journey, she did what so many women at that time did and even after – even the women before me – and that is that they aligned themselves with power that was male, because they couldn’t find female power.
‘And so women then became competitive with her and she didn’t have a support system. So I feel bad for her in that sense, because she was really smart and she was funny and she had appetites which she was punished for.
‘And she kept marrying in an attempt to make herself financially solvent. She clearly chose guys that couldn’t deal with the other part, then she didn’t end up being economically, financially safe.
Duster jacket: Susan contrasted her jumpsuit by wearing a flowing white duster jacket over it
Golden girl: She complemented her ensemble with a selection of gold rings and bold pendant
Protected: A team of handlers guided her as she made her way through the streets of London
‘I find her so interesting and such a great subject to show little girls that you don’t have to be just one thing. You can be pretty and smart and be in science and still be attractive. Those days are over, but that’s fairly recent.
‘So I like it that it starts a discussion. There’s a scholarship that’s in her name now, the family has come together. A lot of nice things have happened because of the film.’
Her interview comes days after she opened up in Friday’s edition of the i newspaper about her own experiences as a woman in Hollywood.
She said: ‘I was told you were done by the time you’re forty and you definitely shouldn’t talk about having children ‘cause that made you less sexy.’
Fan favourite: She stopped to sign autographs for a group of fans gathered outside the studio
She’s got sole: The Hollywood star rounded out her flattering ensemble with off-white brogues
‘I’m still working and there are tons of other women working around my age and the main reason for that is female producers and female writers and directors and people who are willing to try and get money for a female driven story where all the characters are not twenty-two.
‘Otherwise, there just aren’t that many stories of older men and women. I mean there are stories of older men but they always have thirty-year old girlfriends.’
The Dead Man Walking star also discussed her views on the Time’s Up movement against sexual harassment, saying: ‘Time’s Up is not only about violence against women.
Screen icon: The actress promoted her new documentary on late screen icon Hedy Lamarr, who as well as being a celebrated actress was also a secretly accomplished inventor
‘It’s also about being seen and listening to all women in all kinds of jobs: our sisters that are waitresses and cleaning apartments and taking care of our children and all of these areas where the imbalance of power has led to vulnerability, where women are physically threatened.
‘And in listening to everyone, the world will be a healthier place.’
On the importance of telling women’s stories she said: ‘Telling women’s stories and showing women that are the protagonists in their own lives, is very very important. It’s not doing anybody a favour.
‘It’s really just reflecting this amazing world we live in and the stories and heroes that exist. And making it more reflective of what’s out there.’
Big screen debut: New York City-born Susan appeared in her first film, Joe, in 1970, aged 25
Hit: She starred alongside (L-R) Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer in 1987’s The Witches of Eastwick
Susan was previously in a long-term relationship with actor Tim Robbins, who she met while they were filming the 1988 movie Bull Durham.
They moved in together and began a serious relationship, having two sons Miles, 25, and Jack Henry, 28, though they never wed.
They split in 2009 and she went on to date Jonathan Bricklin, son of Malcolm Bricklin.
The redheaded actress also has daughter Eva Amurri – born in 1985 – from Italian filmmaker Franco Amurri.
Open: The Oscar-winning star recently spoke about how in her early days of acting she ‘shouldn’t talk about having children,and discussed her support for the Time’s Up Movement
Family first: The star has three children, Eva Amurri (above) 32, Miles, 25, and Jack Henry, 28