June Squibb was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Bruce Dern’s wife in Nebraska — the first Oscar nomination for the 84-year-old actress. “Well, I was thrilled,” Squibb told Uinterview exclusively. “The film had done very well with the Golden Globes and SAG and critics but I think we all feel the Oscars is the big one and I was just thrilled to be included in that.”

Squibb has performed on television series, in numerous films and on Broadway — including in the original production of Gypsy — during her career. She will play Hannah Horvath’s (Lena Dunham) dying grandmother on the third season of HBO’s Girls. 

Transcript:

Q: How did it feel to receive the Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress?

A: Well, I was thrilled. The film had done very well with the Golden Globes and SAG and critics but I think we all feel the Oscars is the big one, and I was just thrilled to be included in that.

Q: What was it like to work with Bruce Dern on this film?

A: Well, we work very much alike, so it was great ’cause we sort of knew what the other one, how the other one was going to be on set and we didn’t talk about it at all. I mean we just sort of went on the set and worked with each other. It was great.

Q: Do you have any insights to help us understand your character Kate?

A: Well, I think that she’s a woman who – she has no filter. She probably never had a filter. I mean I can see her being like that at 15, and she just says what comes into her mind. It all comes right out her mouth. I think she’s very faithful, she’s loyal to that husband and I don’t think she would ever leave him and she will protect those two boys to her dying breath. This is the kind of mother she is and I think she’s had a lot to contend with, his alcoholism and now the beginning of a dementia setting in, so she’s a very strong lady.

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Q: How did it feel to receive the Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress? - Uinterview

Well, I was thrilled. The film had done very well with the Golden Globes and SAG and critics but I think we all feel the Oscars is the big one, and I was just thrilled to be included in that.

User Uinterview
Q: What was it like to work with Bruce Dern on this film? - Uinterview

Well, we work very much alike, so it was great 'cause we sort of knew what the other one, how the other one was going to be on set and we didn't talk about it at all. I mean we just sort of went on the set and worked with each other. It was great.

User Uinterview
Q: Do you have any insights to help us understand your character Kate? - Uinterview

Well, I think that she's a woman who – she has no filter. She probably never had a filter. I mean I can see her being like that at 15, and she just says what comes into her mind. It all comes right out her mouth. I think she's very faithful, she's loyal to that husband and I don't think she would ever leave him and she will protect those two boys to her dying breath. This is the kind of mother she is and I think she's had a lot to contend with, his alcoholism and now the beginning of a dementia setting in, so she’s a very strong lady.

User Uinterview
Q: Were there any surprises working with director Alexander Payne? - Uinterview

Well, you know I did About Schmidt with him so we had a history. He’s a director that understands actors and that’s always great. He’s really a brilliant filmmaker, but on top of that he knows how an actor works and what he did with me anyway, I would come on the set and be bringing what I feel she should be and I know the scene where I told the family off and that wonderful word was yelled out, he didn’t know how he wanted it, so we did it over and over and over, so we did it softer, we did it louder, we did it very strong, we did it a little like she might be intimidated by saying it. I mean we went everywhere you could go with that and that – but that's the kind of director he is and he will just say louder, softer, faster, you know and then he will get into what he wants emotionally from the scene.