Tonya Mosley

June, the scene is definitely funny, but there is something more going on here because Eleanor is kind of asserting herself at the two of them being dismissed.

And it's something that plays throughout the entire film.

What drew you to this character?

Is it true that you wrote Scarlett a letter once you signed on to this asking her to be a part of it?

Scarlett, I mentioned that this script made you cry when you read it.

Do you remember that moment when you just knew you had to be a part of it?

When you took on the challenge, you're like, okay, this is so interesting.

I'm going to do this.

How did you wrestle with those moral questions as a director, making it funny, because it is very humorous, but also taking on such a heavy topic?

Mm-hmm.

Scarlett, you made this intentional choice to cast real Holocaust survivors in the group support scenes.

How did that idea come together?

Scarlett mentioned that there was a planned bat mitzvah for you in the film.

You actually had to learn Torah for this role.

Yeah.

June, as someone, you converted to Judaism decades ago.

In the 50s.

You married someone who was Jewish.

That's why.

What was that experience like, diving deeper into that story, into those texts for Eleanor's journey?