Entertainment

June Squibb on her Oscar nod, the F-Word and not being a pole dancer

At 84, June Squibb has finally become a household name. Earlier this month, she grabbed her first Oscar nomination for Supporting Actress in Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska.” In the film, she plays Kate Grant, the acerbic wife to Bruce Dern’s Woody, a man suffering from dementia who travels to Nebraska to claim the million-dollar prize he mistakenly believes he has won. Critics and voters alike are roaring for Squibb’s hilarious turn, which features instantly quotable dialogue (“I ain’t fiddlin’ with no cow ti - - ies. I’m a city girl!”) and physical comedy you won’t soon forget.

The Post caught up with June Squibb to talk about the F-word, Lena Dunham and pole dancing.

Post: Has the Oscar nomination hit you yet?
Squibb: I think it has. It didn’t at first, to be honest with you. People kept talking to me by saying “Hey, congratulations,” and I thought “What are they talking about?” And then it all at once hit me: Of course people are congratulating me! [Laughs].

Where were you when you found out?
I was at home, and my son was there. We were watching it, and just before my category, he came over and put his arm around me. I was sure it meant whatever happened, he was still my son. Afterwards, I had heard my name, seen my picture, but I said, “Harry, Harry! They did my call my name, didn’t they?” He said, “Yes, Mom they did. You did it.” Then we had a lot of hugging and kissing and a few tears.

The people want to know: Is Bruce Dern as kooky as he seems in person?
Well, he is [laughs]. He loves to talk. We all kid him — we know it, he knows, everyone knows it. And he teases me a lot [too]. One night we were at a screening and people kept coming up to me and saying, “I didn’t know you were a pole dancer.” I said, “I was never a pole dancer!” And [someone] said, “Well, Bruce is telling everybody you were a pole dancer.” So I went to Bruce, and he said, “I thought you did that on Broadway?” I said, “I was a stripper in ‘Gypsy,’ Bruce! I was not a pole dancer.” He just loved it — he got everybody believing that I had been a pole dancer in my day.

Would you ever come back and do Broadway again?
Oh yes, I would love to do another musical. I actually was in New York about three years ago doing a workshop of the new Liberace musical. I think they’re trying to get it on [now]. I’m not going to do it again, but it was a good experience.

Are people starting to recognize you on the street now?
Yes. I just flew in from LA, and at the airport, one woman who got on the plane behind me was absolutely shocked. I turned around, and she said, “Oh my God, June Squibb!”

Is that unnerving?
It is a little bit. I noticed people say “Hello, June!” and I’m trying to think of where I know them from. They just know me from the film.

Has anyone lifted up their skirt to flash you like you do in the movie?
[Laughs]. No, but what a great idea.

Is there a line people quote to you the most?
They’re all fascinated with the F-word that I let loose with — people talk to me about that a lot.

Are you someone who swears in real life?
I truly am. I’ve always been.

What’s your word of choice?
Oh, the F-word. My father used to curse when I was growing up, and I thought it was pretty neat. Now my mother didn’t like it very much, [but] I thought those words he was saying were just grand. So I picked up a few of them. And then on Broadway, someone said to me, “Well, you know, June, you’re called the dirtiest mouth on Broadway,” which was a shock. I did not know that at the time.

Your mother played piano for silent films. Was that what inspired you to get into show business?
I don’t think so, because I didn’t know it — she told me that later on. I think I came out of the womb feeling that I was an actress.

When was the first time you performed?
I know I used to tap dance. I took tap lessons, and my father’s parents would take me to bars. I would get up on the bar and tap dance. They’d get free beer, and I got applause, so it was a win-win situation.

You’ re appearing as Hannah’s grandmother on “Girls” come March 2. What do you think of Lena Dunham?
Oh, she’s wonderful. I just have such respect for her. She has a tremendous responsibility on the show, and she handles it so beautifully. She’s really the top gun there, and I just think someone of her age doing all that she’s doing is just amazing.

June Squibb will play Hannah Horvath’s grandmother on an upcoming episode of HBO’s “Girls.”Craig Blankenhorn/Courtesy of HBO

I don’t suppose she gets naked in any of your scenes?
No, she doesn’t [laughs].

Do you?
No, I don’t [laughs].

As a result of your nomination, are more doors opening for you now?
Oh, yeah. I think so. I’ve been offered some things that I have decided not to do. In truth, nothing has come my way that I really want to do. I’m enjoying all that’s been happening, and I want to be a part of it. I keep hearing about the nominees lunch being so great, and I want to go!

Is there anyone you’re looking to meet there or at the Academy Awards ?
I can’t think of anyone, [but] I met Idris Elba. My son knew that I was a big fan of his on “Luther,” and so he managed to get me introduced.

Did you get hot and bothered?
I just kept, [saying] “Luther, Luther!” I was beside myself. He’s so handsome too.

Given that Lupita Nyong’o and Jennifer Lawrence have taken a lot of the awards in your category so far, are you still holding out hope that you’ll win?
Oh sure, yes. It’s in my nature to feel, “I could be this! This could be mine!” [Laughs].