Elliot Page Credits the Pandemic With Helping Him Accept That He’s Transgender
In December of 2020, Elliot Page announced he is going by he/they pronouns and identifies as transgender. The famous actor took to social media to share the information with millions of his fans. The news about his gender identity was met with overwhelming love and support from his fans and coworkers. Netflix, which hosts the show that Page stars in, supported the star’s announcement and journey. The star credited the pandemic for allowing him to accept who he was and allowing him to come out as transgender.
Page started acting at a young age
Page first started acting at age 10 in the movie Pit Pony. He starred as Maggie MacLean and was nominated for a Young Artist Award for the role. In 2002 he landed a role in the film Marion Bridge as Joanie. Later that year, he was cast for the series Trailer Park Boys as Treena Lahey. Page played the role for five episodes before landing parts in subsequent films such as Love That Boy and Touch & Go in 2003.
In 2005 Page gained recognition for his performance in the thriller Hard Candy. In the movie, the star played a young vigilante called Hayley Star, who captured and tortured a man she believed was a predator. The film was a commercial and critical success. In 2006 the actor appeared in X-Men: The Last Stand as Kitty Pryde. In 2007 Page had his widespread breakthrough after appearing in Juno.
The actor’s performance earned him critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination. Page has been involved in several other productions such as Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love, X Men: Days of Future Past, Freeheld, and Tallulah. In November 2017, Page landed the role of Vanya Hargreeves in the Netflix superhero series The Umbrella Academy, a part which he’s held since then.
Page came out as transgender in a social media post
On December 1, 2020, Page wrote a long heartfelt note to his fans on social media. The star began by clarifying his pronouns and letting his fans know that he uses he/they pronouns. Page expressed his gratitude for finally being in a place where he is in his life. He also thanked everyone who’s walked the journey with him.
The actor wrote, “I finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self,” acknowledging that he’s been inspired by so many people in the trans community. Page has been vocal about the issues facing trans people in the US and all over the world. The star even cited some statistics about the problems facing trans people writing that many trans people, especially Black and Latinx trans women, face on a daily basis.
Page says the pandemic helped him come to terms with who he is
A year into the pandemic has given Page a lot to think about in terms of self-realization. Isolation gave the 34-year-old star the much-needed time and space to wrap his head around his gender identity. Speaking to Time Magazine, Page revealed that before making the disclosure, he and his ex-wife Emma Portner had a few discussions about his gender identity.
Page said that he had a lot of time to “really focus on things that I think in so many ways, unconsciously, I was avoiding.” The Time Magazine cover which Page appeared on had the words “I’m fully who I am” on the cover, which reflected how Page feels currently.
Page said that growing up, he’d questioned his gender, and when he had the chance to cut his hair off, he finally felt like a boy. This was until he had to grow his hair out for his role on Pit Pony. For Page, isolation helped him find the right inspiration from famous trans people before deciding to disclose that he was transgender.
