Inspired by the story of his own grandmother, Josh Margolin’s Thelma tells the story of Thelma getting scammed out of thousands of dollars and her attempting to get it back in one of the most entertaining action-comedy films of the summer.  Offscreen Central was lucky to speak with star June Squibb about what it means to be the face of a story that talks about the graces and challenges when it comes to aging.

Jessa Hay: This film really plays into the typical tropes we see in action films but also has a fun time subverting them by incorporating the everyday struggles of senior citizens, which are two things that don’t usually go together.  What initially drew you to this role?
June Squibb: The script.  I was sent the script by Beanie Feldstein (we had done The Humans together) and she’s a family friend of Josh [Margolin].  They were talking about his new script and she said “So who do you want to do it?” and he said “I’d love June Squibb to read it but I don’t know how to get a script to her.”  And Beanie said “I’ll get it to her,” and she texted me and said “I’m sending you a script,” and I got the script.  And I read it and felt like this is something I should do.  I immediately knew it was something I had to do.  So when he called, we laugh about it now, but he assumed he would have to talk me into it and instead it was “Yes I’m in!”  So that’s how it all started.

Jessa Hay: Thelma was your first leading role over the course of your wonderful career and having that title of ‘first leading role’, what does that mean to you?
June Squibb: Very little to be honest with you (laughs).  It does give you more time on camera, there’s no doubt about that.  It’s a more leisurely way of telling your story, so I enjoyed that.  But I prepared the same way I always do no matter what I’m doing.  It made no difference to me in terms of the actual doing of it.
Jessa Hay: I love that too.  We put so much emphasis into “leading” versus “supporting” characters but we really shouldn’t.  Everyone’s an integral part to the filmmaking experience.

Jessa Hay: Society tends to see the elderly population as helpless because they are not able to do everything they once could.  What do you find to be a strength of aging, both in your career and in everyday life?
June Squibb: You begin not to care about pleasing people, and I think that’s a strength.  It really becomes a strength as an actor because you can do your work and not really care what anyone thinks about it.  And that’s very freeing.  That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older.  And you begin to do what you want to do rather than what someone tells you you should do.  There is no more ‘should’ it’s all ‘what do I want to do?’

Jessa Hay: Within the film industry, I feel as though we are still lacking stories that focus on the two things your film had: women in action leads and getting older from the perspective of the elderly.  Are there any films that you would recommend that have either of these premises or maybe some that inspired you for this movie?
June Squibb: Ruth Gordon, she made the film Harold and Maude, and she made others as well.  She was working in her 70s and 80s, which was considered very old when she was working.  She did a lot for the idea of ‘no matter your age, if you’re interesting people are going to be interested in watching.’  And she certainly was interesting; she was an interesting lady.
Jessa Hay: I’m actually not too familiar with her so now I have to add her to my watchlist!
June Squibb: She was big on stage and then she did quite a few films.

Jessa Hay: Thelma has a lot of themes of not only trying to do things on your own as you age, but also realizing and recognizing when you should reach out for help even when you want to prove you can do things on your own.  Is there any advice you would give to the younger generations who want to help their aging parents and grandparents who may be in a similar mindset of wanting to do things on their own without making it seem like they’re calling their relatives helpless?
June Squibb: I think you just have to use tact. I think a lot of it is making an older person feel incapable of doing things and they’re not.  We know they’re not.  When they need help I think it’s hard because you are so constantly told ‘you can’t do that’ or ‘can you do that?’  I think you just have to be tactful with them.  You can’t push it, but like anything else you spend some time with them.  Time is valuable and time is a part of that process.

Jessa Hay: There are so many moments that are very laugh out loud alongside some that are tear jerking spread throughout the film.  Is there one scene that really stands out to you because of the message it’s trying to say or maybe because you had a good behind-the-scenes moment with it?
June Squibb: The scene in the cemetery.   When I read the script I realized the importance of that scene.  And I knew it was going to be a great scene to film and then having Fred [Hechinger], who’s such a wonderful partner in it, and that was a joy.  We did it in one day, we spent pretty much all day at the cemetery and for both of us we wanted to go into it with the same attitude, same feelings, and same wants. It was a joy to shoot and I think the most important scene in the film.

Jessa Hay: Did you find any challenges when you were stepping into the role of Thelma or did it seem pretty easy?
June Squibb: The challenges were physical.  And it wasn’t that any one thing was hard that I did, but I would be tired by the end of the day.  At my age, it was pushing it to do what I was doing, but I was able to get through it and we shot everything and I’m happy about it.

Jessa Hay: You hear of action stars like Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis and now I’ll obviously add yourself to that list, that have insane training regimens where they have to eat certain things or do crazy things to prepare themselves for their action roles.  Did you have any training regimen that you would go through that prepared for your action role?
June Squibb: I started pilates when I knew I was going to do this film.  I still take it once a week; I go to the pilates studio and I have a trainer there.  I think that helped tremendously.  I think it helps stamina and it probably helped my body be more flexible for things.

Jessa Hay: Did you do your own stunts?
June Squibb: Basically, I did.  They were very leery of that.  They had a wonderful stunt coordinator and a stunt woman who was to go in for me.  They thought I would not do very much and I ended up doing more.  I drove the scooter most of the time.  They thought they would be using the stunt woman for that.

Jessa Hay: Was the stunt woman on the older side for age or was she younger?
June Squibb: She was younger.  I think she was in her 40s or 50s. She’s the one that did the wheely, I couldn’t have done that.  She knew exactly what to do.

Jessa Hay: This last question is one for me personally.  Aside from movies, I’m also a huge Broadway fan.  I know that’s how you got your start, you were on stage.  What would be your dream role to ever play on Broadway?
June Squibb:  I think playing Mama Rose in Gypsy.  I was one of the strippers so I know the show very very well.  But that role, and singing wise, is a great role, probably one of the most important female roles ever written for Broadway.

Jessa Hay:  I just want to thank you for spending time with me and answering my questions!
June Squibb: Thank you! I’ve enjoyed it!

Thelma is currently available on demand.