Oscar-nominated ‘Juno’ star Elliot Page wrote in a statement posted on Tuesday that he will no longer be known as Ellen.
“Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot,” the 33-year old actor announced on Twitter and Instagram.
“I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.”
The actor and producer was nominated for his breakout role in 2007 for the film ‘Juno’ and has since starred in films including ‘X-Men: The Last Stand,’ ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ and ‘Inception’ as well as popular Netflix series ‘Umbrella Academy’, where he plays Vanya Hargreeves.
“I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self,” he wrote. Two years ago, he married choreographer and dancer Emma Portner.
“I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive. To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”
Portner reposted Page’s announcement on her Instagram, and said she is “so proud”.
“Trans, queer and non-binary people are a gift to this world,” Portner added in the caption.
“I also ask for patience and privacy but that you join me in the fervent support of trans life every single day. Elliot’s existence is a gift in and of itself. Shine on sweet E. Love you so much.”
The Canadian actor came out publicly as gay six years ago at a Human Rights Campaign conference in Las Vegas, saying he was “tired of hiding, and I am tired of lying by omission.”
“I suffered for years because I was scared to be out,” he remarked. “My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I’m standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain.”
Nick Adams, the director of transgender media at GLAAD, an NGO non-governmental media monitoring organisation founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of LGBT people, released a statement on Tuesday saying Page “… will now be an inspiration to countless trans and non-binary people.”
“All transgender people deserve the chance to be ourselves and to be accepted for who we are. We celebrate the remarkable Elliot Page today.”
PHOTO CREDIT: RICH POLK/GETTY