Elliot Pageis ready to talk about his life story, which he’s just put down on paper in his much-anticipated new memoir,Pageboy.
His is a remarkable one: how a Canadian child star overcame his fears to become an Oscar nominee (for 2007’sJuno), superhero (theX-Menfranchise and he’s starring in the final season of Netflix’sThe Umbrella Academy), and, now, perhaps the most famous trans person on the planet, since coming out in 2020.
“When I’m walking down the street, and young people come up to me, it means the world to me,” Page, 36, who graces the cover of this week’s PEOPLE, says. “Them being themselves, having the courage to say, ‘This is who I am, and I’m gonna live authentically.’”
“The privilege I have, does not represent the reality of most trans lives," adds Page. “The reality is trans people disproportionately are unemployed, disproportionately experience homelessness. Trans women of color are being murdered. People are losing their healthcare.”
Not that his journey has been without difficulty. “I do feel like I barely made it in many ways,” Page says.
He opens up about those challenges — and the joy he’s found on the other side.
Liam Woods
On how it feels to share his truth with the world:
On his closest friends and allies in Hollywood:
“We all love Catherine Keener. She let me live with her. And Alia [Shawkat] and Kristen [Wiig], they encouraged me to go against the forces that were telling me to not be true. [They’re] sincere people who were just selfless and kind and loving.”
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On how he finds joy now:
On the meaning behind his “E.T. phone home” tattoo on his arm:
“I probably watchE.T.at least once a year. It, to me, is a perfect movie, and I always desperately wished I could be Elliott in that film, or even that Ifeltlike Elliott. I resonated with him like I would resonate with other male characters, of course.”
On whether he’s dating at the moment:
“I wouldn’t say a lot, no! [laughs] But I’d say I’m single and enjoying that.”
On his close bond with his mother:
“My relationship with her is the best it’s ever been. I’ve had so much to learn about so many things myself. But finally sharing my truth with her and telling her about the changes that were about to happen in my life, my mom was just so immediately supportive. She’s educated herself. I think there was such a profound sense of relief, like she saw her kid step into themself.”
For more about Page, pick up this week’s issue ofPEOPLE, on newsstands next week.
Pageboywill be released on June 6.
source: people.com
