Elliot Page.Photo: Rich Polk/Getty
Elliot Pagewants to use his “privilege” and “platform” to help others in the transgender community.In his first interview since publiclycoming out as trans in December, the 34-year-oldUmbrella Academyactor chats withTimeabout growing up feeling “like a boy” from an early age but having “to look a certain way” in terms of his acting career, starting at age 10.When he came out as transgender three months ago, “What I was anticipating was a lot of support and love and a massive amount of hatred and transphobia,” Page tellsTimeduring their emotional interview. “That’s essentially what happened.“He adds later that he wants to beopen and honest about who he isto let others know they’re not alone, saying, “Extremely influential people are spreading these myths and damaging rhetoric — every day you’re seeing our existence debated.““Transgender people are so very real,” Page says.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.As for his own “privilege,” Page tells the magazine that it “has allowed me to have resources to get through and to be where I am today.““And of course I want to use that privilegeand platform to help inthe ways I can,” he adds.For more on Elliot Page’sTimecover and interview, listen below to the episode of PEOPLE Every Day.TheJunoactor also discusses his childhood, including asking his mom if he “could be [a boy] someday” and being forced off of a boys' competitive soccer team.Speaking about theanti-trans legislation surrounding sports teamstoday, Page says, “I would have been in that position as a kid. It’s horrific.“Elliot Page.Elliott Page/InstagramRELATED VIDEO:JunoOscar Nominee Elliot Page Comes Out as Transgender: “My Joy Is Real, but It Is Also Fragile"Timereports that, since Page (who uses he/him and they/them pronouns) came out as transgender, he has been offered a slew of opportunities in terms of acting, directing and producing — many relatedto trans stories, andsome “dude roles.“Having played Vanya Hargreeves onThe Umbrella Academysince it premiered in 2019, Page says the role appealed to him because he “related to how much Vanya was closed off.“When he returned to set to begin filming theNetflixsuperhero series' third season, coworkers were extremely supportive, although some have used the wrongpronounsaccidentally. “It’s going to be an adjustment,” says the Oscar nominee.Going forward in his career in general, “I’m really excited to act, now that I’m fully who I am, in this body,” Page says. “No matter the challenges and difficult moments of this, nothing amounts to getting to feel how I feel now.”
Elliot Pagewants to use his “privilege” and “platform” to help others in the transgender community.
In his first interview since publiclycoming out as trans in December, the 34-year-oldUmbrella Academyactor chats withTimeabout growing up feeling “like a boy” from an early age but having “to look a certain way” in terms of his acting career, starting at age 10.
When he came out as transgender three months ago, “What I was anticipating was a lot of support and love and a massive amount of hatred and transphobia,” Page tellsTimeduring their emotional interview. “That’s essentially what happened.”
He adds later that he wants to beopen and honest about who he isto let others know they’re not alone, saying, “Extremely influential people are spreading these myths and damaging rhetoric — every day you’re seeing our existence debated.”
“Transgender people are so very real,” Page says.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
As for his own “privilege,” Page tells the magazine that it “has allowed me to have resources to get through and to be where I am today.”
“And of course I want to use that privilegeand platform to help inthe ways I can,” he adds.
For more on Elliot Page’sTimecover and interview, listen below to the episode of PEOPLE Every Day.
TheJunoactor also discusses his childhood, including asking his mom if he “could be [a boy] someday” and being forced off of a boys' competitive soccer team.
Speaking about theanti-trans legislation surrounding sports teamstoday, Page says, “I would have been in that position as a kid. It’s horrific.”
Elliot Page.Elliott Page/Instagram
RELATED VIDEO:JunoOscar Nominee Elliot Page Comes Out as Transgender: “My Joy Is Real, but It Is Also Fragile”
Timereports that, since Page (who uses he/him and they/them pronouns) came out as transgender, he has been offered a slew of opportunities in terms of acting, directing and producing — many relatedto trans stories, andsome “dude roles.”
Having played Vanya Hargreeves onThe Umbrella Academysince it premiered in 2019, Page says the role appealed to him because he “related to how much Vanya was closed off.”
When he returned to set to begin filming theNetflixsuperhero series' third season, coworkers were extremely supportive, although some have used the wrongpronounsaccidentally. “It’s going to be an adjustment,” says the Oscar nominee.
Going forward in his career in general, “I’m really excited to act, now that I’m fully who I am, in this body,” Page says. “No matter the challenges and difficult moments of this, nothing amounts to getting to feel how I feel now.”
source: people.com
