2023-06-19 13:29:00
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He played men and he played women. Today the actor Elliot Page (“Juno”) is a proud trans man. He describes his journey there in his memoirs.
You know Elliot Page from “Inception” with Leonardo DiCarpio or the film series “X-Men”. The role of the unintentionally pregnant “Juno”, who gives up her child for adoption, made him famous in 2007.
Elliot Page played mostly women. But not anymore as of late. His transition to being a man in real life also took place in front of the camera in the 2019 series Umbrella Academy.
The other girl
Even as a child in Halifax, Canada, Elliot Page felt different from the girls around him. At that time his name was still Ellen Page. He did not share the same interests and dressed differently. “I knew that when I was four years old. Crystal clear,” he said recently in one Interview with the “culture time” from 3sat.
Initial attempts to address his queerness failed or were used as an opportunity by classmates to exclude him. His bed became his fantasy world in which he might immerse himself and save the world in various roles. His parents warned him: “Don’t play with the boys so much!” Then later: “Dress more feminine!”
Hide and seek in Hollywood
The criticism of the clothes carried through to his acting career in Hollywood. For every movie premiere or red carpet, Elliot Page was tucked into an evening gown. His management advised him to keep quiet regarding his attraction to women, as coming out as a lesbian would hurt his career.
The never-ending game of hide-and-seek of sex affairs, relationships, and growing discomfort in one’s own body led to eating disorders, panic attacks, and depression.
Das Outing in Las Vegas
In 2014, he might no longer keep it to himself. At the then “Time to Thrive” conference in Las Vegas – an LGBTQIA+ network – Elliot Page encouraged the community to continue to stand up for their causes and to love themselves.
And he announced that he too belongs to this community. “I am here today, because I am gay” was followed by thunderous applause. A liberation for the 27-year-old. And yet he still hadn’t quite come to himself.
New euphoria
It was another six years before Elliot Page came out as trans on Instagram and adopted the pronouns he/they. Today, the 36-year-old poses in pictures topless, flat-chested and with a bigger smile than ever.
In interviews he talks regarding the euphoria his new body makes him feel. The way there was anything but easy. Elliot Page writes regarding this in his memoirs «Pageboy», which were recently published in German.
A tortuous path
«Pageboy» is not written linearly, jumps from chapter to chapter in different phases of Elliot Page’s life. The author writes in the foreword of the book that this is the correct form, since queerness is also a tortuous path.
Having to imagine a young Elliot Page in one chapter and an adult in the next makes reading difficult. And yet the book touches with unembellished, rough language and intimate moments.
When asked why Elliot Page chose to tell his story now, he replied that the political climate in the US was becoming increasingly anti-trans. Books always helped him in difficult situations. With “Pageboy” he wants to make his contribution and create representation.
book reference
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Elliot Page: «Page boy. My story», translated by Katrin Harlass, Lisa Kögeböhn, Stefanie Frida Lemke», S. Fischer Verlag 2023
1687186502
#Actors #Memoir #Elliot #Pages #Journey #Culture
