June Squibb

I was born and grew up in Vandalia, Illinois, a small town of about 6,000. It was farm country, and this was the little county seat.

My whole thing is, I collect what I know I want to read, and I have certain bookshelves in my bedroom that contain all the books I haven't read yet.

I am an avid reader.

I've been involved in all the different awards shows. Apparently, what I wear becomes important.

I loved New York. I made enough money and studied acting with Kenneth McMillan, which was my first formal training.

To make money in New York, you have to add gigs when starting out, so while I was acting quite a bit, I would do modeling.

The thing I always thought of myself as was an actress. I never thought: 'I want to be.' It was always: 'I am.'

New York, oh my God, in my early 20s. I felt, this is home, this is really where I belong.

I always made a decent living.

I had three influential teachers. The first was Uta Hagen. The second two, Bobby Lewis and my late husband, Charles Kakatsakis, were both from the Actors Studio.