Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon is an American actress whose collaboration with David Bowie in the film The Hunger (1983) stands as one of Bowie’s most iconic and enduring screen appearances.
The film united Sarandon’s intense, grounded screen presence with Bowie’s enigmatic and otherworldly persona, creating a work that has become a landmark of early-1980s gothic cinema.
- Born: 1946, United States
- Role: Actress
- Shared work with Bowie: The Hunger (1983)
- Bowie connection: Film co-star
Early 1980s cinema context
By the early 1980s, David Bowie was expanding his artistic reach beyond music, increasingly drawn to film roles that allowed him to inhabit fully realised characters.
Susan Sarandon, already an established actress, was likewise exploring complex, psychologically charged roles outside mainstream Hollywood formulas.
The Hunger (1983)
Directed by Tony Scott, The Hunger is a stylised vampire film centred on themes of immortality, desire and decay.
Bowie plays John Blaylock, a centuries-old vampire whose eternal youth begins to collapse, while Sarandon portrays Dr. Sarah Roberts, a scientist drawn into the vampires’ world.
Shared performances
- The Hunger (1983) — Susan Sarandon and David Bowie appear together throughout the film, their scenes forming the emotional and narrative core of the story.
Contrasting screen presences
Sarandon’s performance is grounded, analytical and emotionally human, providing a stark counterpoint to Bowie’s fragile, decaying immortality.
This contrast heightens the film’s tension, allowing Bowie’s character to appear both seductive and tragic.
Bowie’s cinematic persona
The Hunger reinforced Bowie’s reputation as a performer uniquely suited to roles exploring alienation, beauty and impermanence.
His casting alongside Sarandon placed him within a serious dramatic context, rather than as a novelty musician-actor.
Cult legacy
Although initially divisive, The Hunger developed a lasting cult following, admired for its atmosphere, music and visual style.
Sarandon and Bowie’s collaboration is now regarded as central to the film’s enduring appeal.