At an age when post people have long retired, June Squibb is starring in movies, attending international film festivals, and preparing for her return to Broadway. The 95-year-old actress, who became a first-time leading lady at 94 in the action film “Thelma”, is now headlining Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great”. Her secret to this incredible energy? “I just gird my loins and go!” she says with a laugh, suggesting that if she ever stopped working, she might not start again.
Squibb’s career is a testament to persistence. She didn’t act in her first film until she was 60 but found breakthrough fame with an Oscar-nominated role in “Nebraska” at 84. Since then, she has enjoyed the busiest and most celebrated period of her life. She hasn’t had to audition for a role in over a decade, a welcome change after a lifetime of trying out for parts. This surge is opportunities has given her a newfound sense of validation and recognition in the industry.
In “Eleanor the Great,” Squibb plays a complex woman who grapples with grief and identity, a role that showcases both her sharp comedic timing and her dramatic depth. Director Scarlett Johansson notes that witnessing the audience’s emotional connection to Squibb’s performance at the Cannes Film Festival was a highlight of the entire project. Squibb herself is drawn to unique and challenging roles, from voicing a character in “Zootopia 2” to playing a grandmother in a coven of blood-drinking leprechauns for “American Horror Story.”
So, what’s next for an actress who has seemingly done it all? Squibb has her sights set on a Western. She even shared this dream with director Alexander Payne, who promised to write her into one. “I used to ride when I was a kid,” she recalls. “I think if you got me on the horse, I could probably still do it.” With her unwavering spirit and proven talent, there’s little doubt that June Squibb will continue to captivate audiences and redefine what is possible at any age.
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