Susan Sarandon is an Academy award-winning actress who has starred in films like Dead Man Walking, Thelma & Louise, The Client, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

And while many of her films have been quite popular, she says you can never really predict how people will respond to them.

“I’ve been very lucky, or strangely zealot like, that quite a few of my films have had some kind of social turning point where they became something that meant something at the particular time,” said Sarandon.

Susan Sarandon: Activism and acting

Accomplished American actress Susan Sarandon talks about her distinguished career and her philanthropy work in Nepal.

In addition to her work in front of and behind the camera, Sarandon is also an activist and humanitarian. She dedicates her time and resources to advocate for social and political justice. She’s an outspoken voice on issues such as capital punishment, world hunger, HIV and AIDS awareness, and LGBTQ rights. She’s served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

She recently shifted her focus to helping those affected by the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal. More than 9,000 people died. Those who survived are still struggling. Sarandon saw that first hand when she volunteered in Nepal with Live to Love International. However, she says not everyone should try responding to natural disasters by visiting the area immediately.

“If you can’t provide a service, you’re more of a problem if you’re another mouth to feed and shelter,” explained Sarandon. “You have to make sure that if you are going to go somewhere, what your job is and if you can help.”

Susan Sarandon joined Mike Walter in our New York studio to talk about her illustrious career and her recent work in Nepal.