Senior Planet Talks to…Action Star, June Squibb, 94

At 94 years old, June Squibb likes to joke that she’s the oldest action star in Hollywood, thanks to her latest role in the drama Thelma – based on a true story about an elderly woman who hunts down the people who scammed her – which recently premiered at Sundance to huge acclaim.

Since launching her career on the New York stage, June has starred in countless films and TV shows, receiving a best supporting actress Oscar nod for Nebraska ten years ago.

Refusing to let age slow her down, she tells SENIOR PLANET how she enjoyed doing stunts on a mobility scooter in Thelma – inspired by her favorite action hero, Tom Cruise:

Q: Starring as Thelma, your character falls victim to a scam and tries to get her money back. Have you ever been scammed in real life?

JUNE: I’ve had many scam calls, but I never reacted to them. One of my friends thought the Social Security was calling her and she was so worried. And I told her it was a scam. I don’t think I’ve ever really had a problem.

Here’s a sneak peek of this flick, opening June 21:

Q: Thelma’s grandson help her out. Do you have help with things like figuring out your computer?

THELMA: Yes, my assistant Kelly helps because, at this age, I could not be doing what I’m doing if it were not for her. My son in San Diego is engaged and he’s a director and a writer so I don’t expect him to give his life up to me – but Kelly is here all the time, so I’m fine.

Q: Thelma is so inspirational. How do you keep in shape in real life?

JUNE: My parents both died at 91 which in their generation was really old. So I think that it truly is down to the genes and I’ve always had an active body. I danced in my early years in musical theater in New York. I also worked with a trainer and now I’m doing Pilates here in Los Angeles. I also swam every day when I first got out to California so I’ve always been physically at it. I also walk when I get a chance.

Q: Do you follow a healthy diet?

JUNE: To a certain extent. It’s not uppermost on my mind. I eat pretty much what I want to eat. But I found that as I’ve gotten older, I eat less meat.

Q: Tell us about those stunts – especially with the mobility scooter?

JUNE: My favorite scene was flipping over the bed. I surprised everybody that I could do that for myself. I wasn’t sure about the scooter at first but we had a great stunt guy and he very calmly explained the scooter to me, and I became really good at it. I could stop on a dime.

The only thing I couldn’t do was when the scooter popped a wheelie – that was the stunt lady – not me. When I saw her do that stunt, I wished they’d asked me because I would have enjoyed that.

Q: And your co-star Richard Roundtree passed away since you made Thelma. What are your memories of him?

JUNE: Oh, he was heaven. He was probably the sexiest man alive, sooo sexy. He was so cool too. It was just so easy working with him. I loved him. I didn’t know him before but we had about seven weeks on the film and we did a lot of it together. And I loved our last scene, saying goodbye. I was devastated when I heard he had gone.

Q: Thelma says she does not want to live in assisted living. Do you feel the same?

JUNE: No. I assume that at sometime, I will go into assisted living….I’ve spent a lot of time at the Motion Picture home in LA visiting friends and that’s an amazing place. So I’m not afraid of it.

Q: Thelma enjoys watching Tom Cruise movies and I believe Tom personally let the filmmakers use M:I footage in the movie. Are you also a fan?

JUNE: Yes. I think Tom is amazing. He’s 61 and look what he’s still doing?!

Q: And you broke Oscar records as the oldest actress to receive an Academy nomination for your role in 2013 dramedy Nebraska? How did that feel?

JUNE: Yes. I think at the time I was the oldest actress. I think actors have been older but I don’t think there have been any older women. It was wonderful. I’m still amazed. Maybe it’s naive but, to me, the Oscars are so very important as it is your peers – people you know and work with – saying that you are one of the best.

Q: You’ve worked with everyone from Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and even Justin Timberlake – but Thelma is your first true leading role in a 70+ year career. How do you follow that?

JUNE: I’m going to New York soon to make a movie which Scarlett Johansson is directing. She lives in New York and I live in LA so we’ve talked over zoom and I’m excited to meet her in person. It’s another really great lead role for an older woman – I mean what else can I play?!

Q: So retirement is not an option?

JUNE: I’ve started doing voiceovers like in Toy Story 4 so when I feel I don’t want to do film anymore, I could still do voice work. I love that, it’s such fun. There’s no makeup or costume – you just talk. So I don’t think about retirement.

Q: What is your secret to aging with attitude?

JUNE: I don’t look back. Even when I was younger, I never did. I always look forward to what is going to happen next, what is coming. And I think that has a lot to do with it – because I still do that. So it’s not a question of: When you wake up in the morning. It’s a question of: What do I have to do or what is coming up? And I love to read. I buy books like there’s no tomorrow. It’s awful. Buying books is my vice. I also do sudoku and crossword puzzles which I think helps keep the mind going.

And I’m still filming – which is ridiculous! But as long as I’m asked to do it and feel that I can – I will continue.

Gill Pringle began her career as a rock columnist for popular British newspapers, traveling the world with Madonna, U2 and Michael Jackson. Moving to Los Angeles 27 years ago, she interviews film and TV personalities for prestigious UK outlets, The Independent, The i-paper and The Sunday Times – and, of course, Senior Planet. A member of Critics Choice Association, BAFTA and AWFJ, she wrote the screenplay for 2016 Netflix family film, The 3 Tails Movie: A Mermaid Adventure. An award-winning writer, in 2021 she was honored by the Los Angeles Press Club with 1st prize at the NAEJ Awards.

 

Photo: Richard-Roundtree (left), June Squibb, (right) CREDIT-David-Bolen