Elliot Page On How His Transition Improved His Life ‘Drastically’
Elliot Page is opening up about his life since coming out as trans, and how he’s focusing on the joy he feels at embracing his truth and his happiness.
The 35-year-old actor sat down with Seth Meyers on Tuesday’s (June 21) episode of Late Night and opened up about coming out two years ago and the journey he’s been on since, including how his character in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy also transitioned in the newly released third season.
Page said that he was a part of the process in crafting the development for the character, which was fully embraced by creator Steve Blackman. “When we first talked about it, he seemed really excited about incorporating it into the show,” Page shared, adding that they also collaborated with trans author and journalist Thomas Page McBee, who “came on board and helped out and I feel proud of it and I’m excited for people to see it.”
The Inception actor said the people closest to him were supportive of his transition, telling Meyers, “I feel really grateful for that. Most people weren’t surprised.”
As for some of the negative feedback he’s gotten from strangers, Page said, “What I want to focus on right now, and has been so extraordinary, is the degree of joy that I feel, the degree of presence that I feel. I feel a way that I really never thought possible for a long, long time. So, that’s really what I’m focusing on and embracing the most, but of course, some moments can be overwhelming. I feel like it’s so unfortunate because we’re all on the same team here, you know? Whether you’re trans, non-binary, cis — we all have these expectations and these limits and constraints with people’s obsession with the binary and how we’re all supposed to live our lives. To me, it would be so special for us to all be able to connect and talk about how similar we are in all of our journeys.”
Since transitioning, Page said he has found himself able to connect to the world and his work as an actor so much more. “I think it’s made me better in so many facets,” he said. “As a person, as a friend, and in relationships. It’s improved my life drastically, and I hope that people who do have an issue with me could try and hear that and embrace that on some level.”
Watch the interview below:
Season 3 of The Umbrella Academy is now streaming on Netflix.
GALLERY: Elliot Page Throughout The Years
