Actor Juliet Stevenson says "disappointed" over industry silence on Gaza

• Veteran actress Juliet Stevenson criticized the "painfully disappointing" silence within the film industry and feminist circles regarding the crisis in Gaza, drawing sharp parallels to those who remained quiet during the Holocaust.
• Stevenson stated she is willing to risk professional opportunities and collaborations to advocate for Palestinian rights, asserting that her career is not more important than the lives of children suffering from starvation and the collapse of healthcare infrastructure.

Renowned British actor Juliet Stevenson, 69, slammed the film industry’s silence for Palestinian rights amid the ongoing assault on Gaza.

Stevenson expressed profound disappointment in the muted response from her industry and broader society to what she describes as a genocide unfolding in the region, in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera.

Known for her extensive work in theatre, film, and television, she has actively participated in rallies, speeches, protest letters, and film productions to highlight ‘Israel's’ actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Stevenson's activism is deeply rooted in her understanding of historical injustices, influenced by readings of Palestinian and ‘Israeli’ writers, including Edward Said, according to her. 

Married to anthropologist Hugh Brody, with children who identify as Jewish, she draws from personal connections to the Holocaust through her mother-in-law, a refugee from Nazi-annexed Austria.

As a mother herself, Stevenson conveyed the profound emotional toll of witnessing the crisis, describing it as "unspeakable."

She highlighted the unimaginable suffering of Palestinian families, including unprecedented numbers of child amputees, orphaned children, and soaring rates of infant mortality and miscarriages due to destroyed healthcare infrastructure and starvation.

"I don’t think my career is more important than the lives of Palestinian children. I really, really don’t,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson expressed willingness to forgo collaborations with those who disagree with her views, prioritizing her morals over opportunities.

Stevenson criticized the "painfully disappointing" silence from outspoken figures in the arts and feminist circles, who often address oppression elsewhere but remain quiet on Gaza, drawing parallels to those who remained quiet during the Holocaust.