The Oscar-nominated veteran has taken on her first lead role in the action-packed comedy "Thelma" — she reflects on a lifetime of working with icons like Nicholson, Scorsese, and Pacino

Move over, Furiosa; take a seat, Deadpool: there’s a new kind of action hero stepping into the spotlight. In Josh Margolin’s action-comedy "Thelma," the story follows a 94-year-old widow who’s conned out of $10,000 by someone posing as her grandson. Realizing her mistake, Thelma takes matters into her own hands, setting off to reclaim her money and settle the score. The film ticks every box for a summer blockbuster, with shootouts, epic stunts, and even chase scenes on a mobility scooter.

When legendary character actor June Squibb, age 94, came across the script with its playful references to spy thrillers like "Mission: Impossible," she knew she couldn’t pass it up — and she was determined to do her own stunts. “I’ve always had confidence in my physical abilities compared to most people,” she says, smiling. “I thought riding around on that scooter would be an absolute blast.”

Speaking with Squibb during a video interview from her New York hotel room, where she’s finishing up a press tour before heading back to Los Angeles, you wouldn’t guess she’s had a whirlwind schedule. She’s upbeat and cheerful. She assures me she’s in great form, despite feeling guilty for not making more time for pilates amid her chaotic itinerary. “I used to do it weekly for an hour with a trainer, and it made a huge difference. I’m holding up well,” she explains.

Remarkably, "Thelma" marks Squibb’s first leading role. Until now, she’s been best known as an esteemed character actor, someone whose face and voice (she’s the voice of Nostalgia in "Inside Out 2") are instantly recognizable, even if her name isn’t. Throughout her career, Squibb has portrayed a series of supporting roles, often playing mothers, wives, and grandmothers alongside big-screen legends in films like "Scent of a Woman," "About Schmidt," and "Palm Springs." Did she ever aspire to more prominent roles? Squibb shakes her head. “No, honestly. I’ve always taken the jobs I wanted. I never had that yearning for something more.”

Although "Thelma" is largely a comedy, the film addresses some serious underlying themes, particularly society’s treatment of the elderly. We see Thelma’s well-meaning family discuss her future, even while she’s sitting there, and debate whether moving her into a nursing home is the best solution. There’s also a scene where Thelma falls and struggles to get back up, which Squibb admits hit close to home. “What if that happens to me?” she pondered. Thankfully, Squibb says her experience at this stage of life has been mostly positive. She’s maintained her independence, living in a San Fernando Valley apartment. “My son convinced me to move to a ground-floor flat, but aside from that, I do fine. I’ve got a wonderful assistant to help me, and I take care of my cats every morning. Sometimes I do get tired, though. Fatigue becomes more real at my age,” she smiles.

Ironically, Squibb’s workload has never been busier. She attributes her recent surge in offers to the film industry’s growing interest in portraying the later stages of life. “There are more opportunities for actors my age now — more than ever before. We even see leading actresses in their 50s and 60s, which wasn’t the case a few decades ago,” she observes. In her 30s, Squibb was furious seeing women phased out of acting as they aged. “Oh, I fought against it all my life,” she exclaims. “Ever since childhood, I couldn’t stand how society dictated that ‘this is what boys do, this is what girls do.’ As a young actress in New York, I was aware that plenty of people just saw me as an object.”

Born in 1929, Squibb says she always knew she was destined to act. “From the moment I could, I thought, ‘This is what I’m meant to be.’” Her parents, however, struggled to understand her passion. “My dad got on board eventually, but I don’t think my mother ever did. Even after seeing me on Broadway, she was still telling me I should come back home,” she recalls. Squibb’s early years were spent honing her craft at the Cleveland Play House, and it was there she met Jack Lee, a future Broadway music director. “He said I needed to sing, so off I went and tackled the comedic parts in musicals,” she says. Her career in musical theatre in New York spanned 20 years until she met her second husband, acting coach Charles Kataksakis, who saw her potential for more dramatic roles. “He shaped the path that got me here today,” she says fondly. Their relationship must have been interesting, considering her husband also gave her acting critiques. “Oh yes,” she laughs, “I’d be in tears during class saying, ‘I can’t do this,’ and the others thought it was hilarious, but it was a mix of emotions, for sure.”

It wasn’t until age 61 that Squibb transitioned from theatre to the big screen. In the early 90s, New York suddenly became a popular place for filmmakers. “I saw friends getting cast, so I went to my agent and said, ‘I should try this too.’ Within a week, I was auditioning for Woody Allen,” she recalls. That film was "Alice", a rom-com starring Mia Farrow, where Squibb played a maid. Casting director Ellen Lewis was immediately taken by Squibb and set her up with Martin Brest, who offered her a role in Al Pacino’s "Scent of a Woman." Lewis also introduced her to Martin Scorsese, who cast her in "The Age of Innocence." “And just like that, I had three films back-to-back, and people started seeing me differently — as a movie actor.”

Steady roles followed, spanning TV shows like "Law & Order," "ER," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "House." Yet her career truly skyrocketed after collaborating with director Alexander Payne. First, he cast her as Jack Nicholson’s wife in "About Schmidt," a role that Squibb says “solidified my status in Hollywood.” Payne then cast her again in "Nebraska" (2013), where her acerbic portrayal of Kate, Bruce Dern’s character’s wife, earned her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Suffice it to say, Squibb no longer needs to audition. “It’s wonderful. Nowadays, I mostly just read scripts and decide based on what’s sent to me,” she says. But she’s still eager to challenge herself with each part. “Every role is a new learning experience, a fresh adventure. I don’t feel that need to prove myself anymore, but I’m always open to growth.”

Squibb recently wrapped up another film, "Eleanor the Great," where she portrays a woman in her 90s returning to New York after years in Florida. Directed by Scarlett Johansson in her directorial debut, Squibb notes, “Scarlett’s smart and such a natural at directing.” She admits being the leading lady comes with a certain pressure. “You bear more responsibility, and it’s different from a supporting role. But now, as the lead, I feel that weight for the whole production.”

Will Squibb retire anytime soon? Laughing, she shrugs. “I do wonder when that might happen. I could easily picture myself settling down with a stack of books. Making films takes up so much time — you’re out of commission for seven or eight weeks at a time. So maybe someday, but as long as people keep asking, I’ll keep doing it.”

"Thelma" opens in cinemas on 19 July.