Page Boy: Elliot Page | wenyang blog

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Ellen Page Time

I first came to know Elliot Page when he played the main character, Jodie, in Beyond Two Souls, one of my favorite games, back when he was still Ellen Page. Jodie is a girl with superpowers but a miserable life, struggling with many challenges. Elliot’s performance was so natural that my heart became deeply attached to the character. Jodie is short, with a constant sorrowful expression that brought out my protective instincts.

Later, Elliot played Vanya in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, a similar character with superpowers but constrained by an oppressive adopted father. In Season 2, Vanya became Viktor, mirroring real life, where Ellen became Elliot through gender transition. After that, Elliot looked paler, and I felt a sense of loss for Ellen Page. But it’s his choice, right?

Why Ellen became Elliot

This made me wonder: Why did he transition, and how is he doing now? Is he okay?

I sought answers in this book, his autobiography Page Boy.

While reading it, I found that familiar feeling resurfacing. Elliot—or rather, "she" during that time—feels as vulnerable and sorrowful as the characters he often portrayed. I was surprised to learn that he always knew he should be a boy and that he’s from Nova Scotia, spending years in Halifax, Canada—a place I’ve always been interested in.

Elliot’s childhood was far from happy—his parents divorced, and his father only seemed to show love when his new wife wasn’t around. I can’t help but wonder if this environment influenced his feelings about wanting to be a boy instead of a girl.

He had sexual experiences with men, but they were described as unhappy and unfulfilling. He always felt like he should be a boy, dressing in boyish styles and feeling miserable whenever he had to present himself as a woman in public. Being an actress only made things harder, as he had to maintain a public image as a woman, even though it went against his true identity. He eventually found some comfort and love in a gay club, which felt like a place where he could express himself freely.

My Concerns

Reading his story, I can sense how difficult it must be to be a public figure while hiding your true feelings and suppressing your expression. It also makes me think about the struggles faced by many transgender people. If society were more accepting, would they feel as much pressure to undergo surgery or take hormones? I’m not entirely sure, but it seems to me that these treatments, especially hormones, might have side effects that could impact physical health. If people were more accepting, perhaps they could simply dress and behave how they want without needing to pursue surgery until it’s completely safe and without risk.

I don’t object to these choices at all—I just hope that everyone can be safe and happy. My concern is especially for those who may not have the wealth or resources that Elliot Page does. Surgery, hormone therapy, and other medical care can be expensive, and not everyone has access to what they need. It makes me wish for a world where people could be their authentic selves without facing financial, physical, or societal burdens.