Reel Corner - July 2025

July 2025 Issue
Reel Corner by Donne Paine

Passion and Talent Can
Thrive at Any Age

If you ever feel too old to continue your passions
think of June Squibb, who, at age 95,
just debuted her latest leading role film
at the Cannes Film Festival

June Squibb is indeed an inspiring figure in the entertainment industry, showcasing that passion and talent can thrive at any age. Born on November 6, 1929, in Vandalia, Illinois, she has had a remarkable career which spans several decades and various mediums, including theater, television, and film.



June’s journey began when she dropped out of Whittier College to pursue her dream of acting. Her early career included singing and dancing at the Cleveland Playhouse. She eventually moved to New York City in the late 1950s, where she made her mark on Broadway. Notable performances in musicals like Gypsy and her nomination for a Tony Award for The Happy Time helped establish her as a talented performer.



Despite facing challenges in the competitive acting world, June continued to work in various capacities, including modeling for romance novels and performing in road tours and on cruise ships. Her persistence paid off when she received her SAG-AFTRA card after appearing in a CBS School Break Special, leading to her big screen debut in 1990 in Woody Allen’s Alice.



Throughout the 1990s and beyond, June became known for her supporting roles in significant films including: About Schmidt; The Age of Innocence; and Meet Joe Black. Her television credits include appearances on popular shows like Law & Order; Two and a Half Men; and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She garnered critical acclaim for her role in Nebraska (2013), earning nominations for prestigious awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.



Squibb’s career continued to flourish into her 90s, with leading roles in projects like Thelma (2024) and in 2025’s Eleanor the Great directed by Scarlett Johansson (soon to be out in theaters) demonstrating her enduring talent and dedication to her craft. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that it is never too late to pursue one’s passions and that age should not be a barrier to achieving one’s dreams. June Squibb’s journey is an inspiration to many, proving that creativity and enthusiasm can persist regardless of age.

 

Eleanor The Great (PG-13)
June Squibb, Erin Kellyman | Director: Scarlett Johansson

This film follows Eleanor Morgenstein (Squibb), a 94-year-old woman who is forced to return from Florida to New York City to move in with her daughter after her best friend and roommate dies. The transition proves to be difficult when she realizes no one has time for her. To find community, Eleanor looks for activities at the Jewish Community Center at Lincoln Center, where her daughter enrolls her in singing classes. An awkward misunderstanding lands her in a support group for Holocaust survivors, and instead of correcting the mistake, Eleanor adopts her deceased best friend’s Holocaust survival stories as her own. This leads to Nina (Kellyman), a young journalist student, wanting to write about Eleanor’s experiences…except they aren’t hers to tell.

Hooray for Squibb whose sharp timing in the comedy-drama is spot on, making her a standout among the cast. She is indeed an inspiration to us all.

References: www.imdb.com, www.hollywoodreporter.com

Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachu-setts, where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. Supporter of the arts, especially films, she has traveled to local and national film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca. There is nothing like seeing a film on the big screen. She encourages film goers to support Hilton Head local theaters, Park Plaza Theater and Northridge. To support her habit of frequent movie going, Donne is a vaccine medicine nurse consultant and also the author of 4 Interview Pillars available on Amazon. See you at the movies!