On the surface, Elliott Heffernan and June Squibb might not appear to have much in common. Heffernan, age 11, just made his film debut in Steve McQueen’s epic drama “Blitz,” playing a young boy sent to the country at the height of WWII who attempts to return home to his mother. Squibb, who just turned 95, has been acting most of her life but is currently enjoying her first lead film performance as the titular “Thelma,” playing a grandmother who tracks down her scammers.
In addition to playing the lead character in a film, the two both began their careers at a young age — Squibb jokes she was “in the womb” when she knew she wanted to be an actor. They also found themselves doing far more stunts than expected of them — and a lot of publicity.
You both just had your first lead role in a movie — what was that experience like?
Elliott Heffernan: Well, it was my first film ever and I was new to a set anyway. It felt like I was stepping into a whole new world. I imagine when you’re the lead, you might get treated differently, but I wouldn’t know it.
June Squibb: Maybe a little bit. I mean, I prepared the same way I always do, no matter the size of the role. But you do get more time in front of the camera. If you’re a supporting role, you might say something three times. I got to repeat my lines more.
Heffernan: Because I haven’t done anything else, I thought it was normal to have that many scenes. But yes, it was a little overwhelming at times.
Squibb: I loved your film, Elliott. You and Steve did beautiful work. It hit me really hard.
Heffernan: Thank you. I liked yours, too! It was really cool.
Squibb: I loved the scenes with you and your young friends on the train. It was so lovely.
Heffernan: It was nice because a lot of the scenes with adults were so serious. And sometimes you just need a refresher.
Squibb: I kept thinking it must have been fun to work with all those kids.
Heffernan: I want to ask you: there’s quite a few scenes where you have challenges using technology. Do you know how to use a computer?
Squibb: Well, I don’t. I’ve never used a real computer. I use an iPad and my iPhone all the time. So, I’m not without some tech ability, but I’m not great at it.
Elliott, I’m campaigning to get Steve McQueen to cast June in something. What can you tell her about him?
Heffernan: He likes tea. He dresses nicely. And he’s a chill guy. He acts like a strict, bossy guy, but he’s just a chill guy.
Squibb: I actually stood near him at the Oscar luncheon picture 10 years ago. I think he was behind me in the picture. And I’ve wanted to work with him since “12 Years a Slave.”
Actually, Elliott, have you seen any of Steve’s other movies?
Heffernan: I was recommended not to. It will probably be a few more years before I watch any of Steve’s other movies.
I believe you also both started acting at a young age?
Squibb: I think I was younger than Elliott even, when I started. I keep saying that when I came out of the womb, I knew this is what I was. It was never “I’m going to be an actor” or “I think I should be an actor.” It was always: “I am an actor.”
Heffernan: When I was a lot smaller, like three or four, I wanted to be either a footballer or an actor. But it sparked a few years ago when I got to year four. I played the Genie in “Aladdin” at school and right after the show, the teacher ran up and told my mom, “You should get him into acting now!”
Another thing you have in common: you both did your own stunts in your movies. What was that experience like?
Squibb: I ended up doing more than I expected. They thought I would start and they would stop it and have a stunt woman come in and finish. But I got them to let me try things — I ended up doing more than I think we all thought I would. It was exciting, especially everything on the scooter.
Heffernan: I think they thought they’d have someone do more of my stunts but when we were on set, I was like, “Please, please let me do it!”
Squibb: I did the same thing. “Please!”
Heffernan: They pretty much let me do everything, apart from the wide shot of me jumping off the train. Everything in the flood was completely me.
Either of you get scraped up at all? What was the hardest part?
Heffernan: Some small things. There was a scene where I was running to catch the train and there was a little hole that my foot fell in. And there’s a scene not in the film where I was being lowered down into a café and the harness was super tight — it gave me a wedgie.
Squibb: I think my toughest scene was inside the old house, getting the gun. I had to roll over on the bed — I got really good at bed rolling.
Elliot, you mentioned a scene got cut. Did that disappoint you?
Heffernan: After all the pain and suffering I went through! (Laughs) It’s all right. I had fun doing it — they had me 50 feet in the air at one point.
June, in your career you can probably relate to shooting things that don’t make the final cut. Is that something you get used to?
Squibb: There are a lot of things where you think, “That was my best work in the film and it’s not even in it!” But you get used to it and you usually understand why they’ve taken it out.
You’re both working with great directors in your films, even though one is a very accomplished filmmaker and the other is making his feature debut. What do you like from a director? What sort of encouragement or guidance helps you?
Squibb: I usually like when they let me go first and see where things are going and then they come in and guide me — even if it means changing things completely. They’re the ones looking at it and they have such an eye, so I trust them. And I’ve been really lucky, most of the directors I’ve worked with have been really good.
Heffernan: I’m the same as June. I think one of the most important things is a director who listens. A lot of times actors have a really good idea about a scene.
What’s been the biggest challenge of these roles?
Hefferman: There’s so much more stuff to being an actor. There’s the publicity, which is a lot more difficult that filming. Then there’s publicity. And more publicity. And don’t forget: publicity. It can be a bit difficult sometimes.
Squibb: I’m pretty tired, too!
Has it been fun at all?
Hefferman: Oh, yes! It’s nice meeting people and nice getting the feedback and appreciation. Because you put a lot of hard work and effort and time into making a film. So, it’s nice for someone to say, “Well done!” And I got to go to L.A. and to New York for the first time.
Squibb: We travelled a lot with “Thelma,” as well. We’ve been going since January, when it premiered at Sundance. But it’s been so wonderful to see people respond to it all over and share it with the world.