Elliot Page ‘absolutely, 100% knew’ he was a boy as a toddler
Elliot Page speaking with Oprah. (Apple)
Elliot Page has said he “absolutely, 100 per cent” knew he was a boy when he was a toddler.
The Umbrella Academy star opened up about when he first started to understand his gender identity in an interview with trans journalist Thomas Page McBee for Vanity Fair, saying that when he was young, he couldn’t understand why adults kept telling him he wasn’t a boy.
McBee told Elliot Page that he knew hew was a trans kid growing up, explaining: “I wasn’t born in the wrong body – I was born in a trans body. Is that how you felt about yourself as a child?”
“All trans people are so different, and my story’s absolutely just my story,” Page replied.
“But yes, when I was a little kid, absolutely, 100 per cent, I was a boy. I knew I was a boy when I was a toddler.
“I was writing fake love letters and signing them ‘Jason.’ Every little aspect of my life, that is who I was, who I am, and who I knew myself to be. I just couldn’t understand when I’d be told, ‘No, you’re not. No, you can’t be that when you’re older.'”
He continued: “You feel it. Now I’m finally getting myself back to feeling like who I am, and it’s so beautiful and extraordinary, and there’s a grief to it in a way.”
Elliot Page has experienced a surge in creativity since embracing his true self
Elsewhere in the interview, Elliot Page spoke about how his life has opened up before him since coming out as trans.
The Juno actor said he is now simply able to “just exist” without having “some constant distraction”.
“For the first time in, I don’t even know how long, [I am] really just being able to sit by myself, be on my own, be productive, and be creative,” Page explained.
“It’s such an oversimplification to say it this way, but I’m comfortable. I feel a significant difference in my ability to just exist – and not even just day to day, but moment to moment.”
I’m imagining the more I get to embody who I am and exist in the body I want to exist in, there’ll be a difference.
The actor said he has experienced a “massive explosion of creativity” since he came out. In recent months, he has written a screenplay with a friend and has “made music”.
Page said he is now able to utilise “all the energy and time” he previously spent feeling uncomfortable, “constantly checking” his body and “feeling unwell”.
He expects his transition to improve his acting for the simple reason that he is now “a lot more f**king comfortable and present”.
“I’m imagining the more I get to embody who I am and exist in the body I want to exist in, there’ll be a difference.”
Page made his comments ahead of a groundbreaking interview with Oprah Winfrey, which is set to debut on Apple TV+ on Friday 30 April.
The actor told Vanity Fair that he feels the need to speak out and be visible for trans kids who are being impacted by a spate of anti-LGBT+ laws advancing through state legislatures across the country.
