Elliot Page has opened up about how “grateful” he is for his life, after undergoing gender-affirming surgery.
The 36-year-old actor, who came out as transgender in 2020, spoke candidly about his relationship with his identity during a recent interview withPeople, ahead of the release of his new memoir, Pageboy. He noted that while he’s a member of the transgender community, he knows that he doesn’t necessarily have the same personal experiences as other people who are trans.
“My experience as a trans person and this life I have, and the privilege I have does not represent the reality of most trans lives,” he said.
The Juno star went on to acknowledge how important it is for the transgender community to be represented. He also described some of the public scrutiny that transgender people have continued to face over the years.
“I think it’s crucial, I think we need to feel represented and see ourselves, you know, that’s not something I had like as a kid,” he said. “The reality is, trans people disproportionately are unemployed, disproportionately experience homelessness. Trans women of colour are being murdered. People are losing their healthcare or couldn’t access.”
Page noted that while he’s faced his own challenges, since coming out as transgender, he still has a lot of gratitude for where he’s at in his life now.
“There’s obviously been very difficult moments. I do feel like I kind of barely made it in many ways,” he said. “But today, I’m just me and grateful to be here and alive and taking one step at a time.”
Earlier this month, Page also shared a powerful message about gratitude on Instagram, as he shared a shirtless photo baring his chest scars. In the caption, he opened up about past feelings of dysphoria and the “joy” he feels after undergoing gender-affirming surgery.
“Dysphoria used to be especially rife in the summer. No layers, just a T-shirt – or layers and oh so sweaty – constantly looking down, readjusting my oversized T,” he wrote. “It feels so f’ing good soaking in the sun now, I never thought I could experience this, the joy I feel in my body. I am so grateful for what gender-affirming care has allowed me and I look forward to sharing more of my journey soon.”
Page publicly came out as transgender in December 2020, with a statement on Instagram that read: “Hi friends. I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they, and my name is Elliot.”
Since then, the Umbrella Academy star has been open with fans about his transition journey, as he revealed in April 2021 that he underwent a “life-saving” top surgery, a procedure for transgender men to remove breast tissue.
Speaking to Oprah Winfrey at the time, Page described how much happier he felt after the surgery, and expressed how important it is to support health care for transgender people.
“I want people to know that not only has it been life changing for me, I do believe it is life-saving and it’s the case for so many people,” he said.
He added that the surgery has given him newfound energy “because it is such a freeing, freeing experience.”
“This is incredibly new. I feel like I haven’t gotten to be myself since I was 10 years old,” he said.
During his recent interview with People, he also shared an excerpt of the first chapter in his book. In the chapter, he reflected on how he felt about his identity before the release of his 2007 movie, Juno.
To the publication, he also explained how other memoirs offered him “inspiration”, before reflecting on what came to mind when writing the memoir.
“I think this period of not just hate, of course, but misinformation or just blatant lies about LGTBQ+ lives, about our healthcare, it felt like the right time,” he said about writing his book. “Trans and queer stories are so often picked apart, or worse, universalized. So the first chapter of Pageboy…I just sat down, and it came out and I just didn’t stop. I just kept writing.”
Page’s memoir, Pageboy, is due for release on 6 June 2023.
