Elliot Page Talks Identity, Transgender Equality in 'TIME' Profile

In his first interview since coming out as transgender, Elliot Page spoke to TIME Magazine about his identity and the continued fight for trans equality. The actor, who found breakout fame for his starring role in 2007's Juno, opened up about the struggles he faced while playing female characters. "Even though [I was] an actor, just putting on a T-shirt cut for a woman would make me so unwell," Page recalled, disclosing that he suffered from anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

After coming out as gay in 2014, Page said he felt a "massive" difference in himself. "But did the discomfort in my body ever go away? No, no, no, no," he added. When the pandemic hit, the isolation of quarantine led Page to reflect more on his identity. "I was finally able to embrace being transgender,” he said. Then, he announced his name and pronouns -- he/him or they/them -- to the world.

Unsurprisingly, Page was met with a barrage of transphobic attacks after announcing his identity. The actor hopes to use his privilege as a wealthy white person with public visibility to advocate for transgender equality. In 2020, the majority of transgender or gender non-conforming people who were murdered were Black and Latinx. A similar pattern has already begun unfolding in 2021. "My privilege has allowed me to have resources to get through and to be where I am today,” Page said. "Of course I want to use that privilege and platform to help in the ways I can."

Head to TIME to see Elliot Page's cover and full interview.

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