Ellen Page is ‘sick and tired’ of being made to feel ‘lucky’ for being a lesbian and having a career
Ellen Page at the “Tales of the City” New York premiere. (Dia Dipasupil/WireImage)
Ellen Page has explained that she’s “sick and tired” of having to feel “fortunate” to be a lesbian with an acting career.
Speaking to Stylist, the Umbrella Academy star said: “I’m so sick and tired of saying: ‘I’m so fortunate to be myself in the world.’
“I shouldn’t have to say any of that bulls**t. But in the scheme of things I am, and that sucks.
“I’m lucky to be in a place where now I’m out and I love to play queer characters.”
The actor, who married dancer Emma Portner in 2018, also spoke out about cancel culture, saying that while everyone makes mistakes, those with large platforms need to learn how to listen.
Page said: “Here’s the thing. We’ve all been ignorant at points. We’ve all had to learn so much, and one thing I try as I get older is to be less self-righteous, because we’ve all had learning to do.
“If you say something, or do something that’s hurtful and damaging, especially if you have a big platform, even if you think it’s a joke, people are going to tell you how they feel.
“And you can’t make yourself seem like a victim because of that. Especially if you have enormous privilege.
“It comes back to educating ourselves and listening to the individuals who have the actual experience, versus thinking you can speak to that experience.”
Ellen Page thinks there’s ‘so far to go’ for queer people in Hollywood.
While speaking on a panel at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, Ellen Page said: “I came out when I was 27 years old. Like, what?
“I wasn’t talking about who I was and being my authentic self because I was an actress in Hollywood. That’s absurd. We need to look at these things as absurd.”
“There’s just so far to go,” she added.
Page also said she was often asked if she’s “worried about being typecast”, a notion she finds ridiculous.
“You would never ask a heterosexual actress that, as being typecast as straight,” she said.
“Why would I not want to play those roles? Quite frankly, I would be thrilled if it’s every role I ever played again!”
