Elliot Page.Photo: Wynne Neilly
Elliot Pagesays he was not “okay” during the time his hit filmJuno"was at the height of its popularity."
In a new cover interview forEsquire’s Summer 2022 issue, the 35-year-oldAcademy Awardnominee, who is transgender, recalled the feeling of being “closeted” during awards season for theDiablo Cody-written dramedy.
“I was closeted, dressed in heels and the whole look — I wasn’t okay, and I didn’t knowhow to talk aboutthat with anyone,” Page said.
While he “can’t pinpoint a ‘worst’ day,” Page said, “WhenJunowas blowing up — this sounds strange to people, and I get that people don’t understand.Oh, f— you, you’re famous, and you have money, and you had to wear a dress, boo-hoo.I don’tnotunderstand that reaction.”
“But that’s mixed with: I wish people would understand that that s— literally did almost kill me,” added Page, who is set torelease a memoir,Pageboy, next year.
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The actor went on to say he could talk toCatherine Keener, his “oldest friend in L. A.” whom he starred with inAn American Crimethat same year.
The Umbrella Academystar toldEsquirehe even has a tattoo dedicated to Keener, 63, whom he has known since he was 19 — and that it’s the “first tattoo [he] ever got.”
“It’s my nickname for her, which is c keens. That’s just under my top right shoulder,” Page said. “Keener taught me not to take bulls—, to keep my feet on the ground, to live my truth and to take care of my heart.”
The Canadian actor said he was expected to wear a dress during press events forJunoand recalled toEsquire, “All the photo shoots —Michael Cerawas in slacks and sneakers. I look back at the photos, and I’m like … ?”
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“And it’s easy for people to roll their eyes, but you know what? No. That was really extremely, extremely f—ed up. I shouldn’t have to treat it like just this thing that happened — this somewhat normal thing. It’s like:No.Regardless of me being trans!” Page said. “I’ve had people who’ve apologized about things: ‘Sorry, I didn’t know, I didn’t know at the time.‘It doesn’t matter!It doesn’t matterif I’m trans orcis. Lots of cis women dress how I dress. That has nothing to f—ing do with it.”
Page recalled “people, especially teenage girls,reallyrespond[ing] to that character, Juno,” after the movie premiered in December 2007.
“The vibe — something that was, if notnonexistent … it wasnewfor a film that reached the audience it reached, and with her as the title character,” hecontinued of the movie, which went on to win Best Original Screenplay for Cody, 43, atthe Oscars. “It related to my queerness and my transness.”
For Page, the juxtaposition between the film’s “success” and “major profit” (both for the film itself and the buzzed-about soundtrack) compared to some of the behind-the-scenes aspects felt “gross.”
“So you’re benefiting greatly from this character that connected with people, and then you do that. It’s gross,” he said. “I wish I could go back and experience it now. As me.”
source: people.com
