SCARLETT JOHANSSON & JUNE SQUIBB: What We Learned From Each Other

A 55-year age gap doesn't feel that big when it comes to Scarlett Johansson, 40, and June Squibb’s creative partnership. The 95-year-old actress stars as a grieving woman who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a college student in Johansson’s directorial debut, Eleanor the Great (in theaters now). Us caught up with the dynamic duo at The Cinema Society’s special screening of the Sony Pictures Classics film.

- MOLLY MCGUIGAN

Johansson cast real-life holocaust survivors to star alongside Squibb in the emotional film.

Scarlett, what was it about this story that drew you to go behind the camera?

SJ There were so many things that were both surprising and attractive to me. I think the intergenerational friendship was very, very moving to me. I was very close to my grandmother Dorothy, and it’s a relationship that you don’t often see explored on film. I really became so invested in the characters and their success as the script went on.

What did you learn from directing June?