Elliot Page, the 37-year-old star known for his roles in ‘Hard Candy,’ ‘X-Men: The Last Stand,’ and ‘Inception,’ not to mention his standout performance as Viktor Hargreeves in Netflix’s ‘The Umbrella Academy,’ has just shared some juicy details from his past.
Aside from his impressive acting career, Page is a vocal advocate for various social issues, including the Me Too movement, abortion rights, and anti-discrimination efforts for the trans community.
In 2014, Page came out as gay when he was presenting as female. Fast forward to 2020, he introduced himself as a trans man, sharing his new name and pronouns with the world. “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot. I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life,” he announced.
“I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive,” he continued. “To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”
In his memoir, ‘Pageboy,’ Page opens up about his relationships, including his time with actress Kate Mara, his experiences of abuse in Hollywood, and his behind-the-scenes life during the filming of ‘Juno,’ which apparently included a romantic entanglement with a co-star.
Page reveals he was struck by his co-star’s mature presence. They shared a strong mutual attraction, which he details vividly. Recalling a moment in her hotel room, he said, “It was on. I had an all-encompassing desire for her, she made me want in a way that was new, hopeful,” according to Page Six. “It was one of the first times someone would make me c**, the first time I would open up.”
Their connection was intense and intimate, happening not just in hotel rooms, but also in trailers and even in secluded spots at work. “Her hotel room, in our trailers at work, once in a tiny, private room in a restaurant… We thought we were being subtle,” he shared.
Page felt that being with her helped him overcome his feelings of shame. “Being intimate with her helped my shame dissipate. I didn’t see a glint of it in her eyes and I wanted that – done feeling wretched about who I am,” he explained.
The co-star Page refers to is Olivia Thirlby, known for playing the role of Leah, Juno’s best friend. Thirlby, who publicly came out as bisexual in 2011, has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility. “No one should have to hide their sexual orientation… Loving people is a necessary part of being human, and it is very difficult to love people in secret. It’s a horrible thing to force people to do,” she told Brooklyn Magazine.
Thirlby has been married to actor Jacques Pienaar since 2014.
