Pageboy summary

Elliot Page first stepped in front of the camera at the tender age of ten, starring as Maggie MacLean in the 1997 CBC Television movie, Pit Pony. Dressing up in costumes triggered painful memories of getting ready for school – nothing fit correctly, nothing felt right. He found himself staring at an unfamiliar reflection. Off set, he engaged in private email exchanges with a fan in his twenties. 

For the young Elliot this was a thrilling connection, an opportunity to share secrets. However, the fan’s conversation gradually shifted to adult themes, including sharing explicit images and fantasiesfantasties of them together. Alarmed, Elliot knew he should stop messaging. But this wasn’t a movie where he could call “cut”. Until now, he’d kept his feelings hidden. Yet, each new email was not only a thrill but also an opportunity to connect. Elliot found it difficult to disconnect.

Success in Hollywood often comes at a price. Was Elliot willing to keep paying? Amid constant media speculation about his sexuality, he felt trapped, yearning for clarity and peace. Torment was everywhere, from verbal abuse on the streets of West Hollywood – unfortunately, a common experience for the LGBTQ+ community – to his ongoing struggle with his self-image.

Catching glimpses of himself in store windows, he felt discomfort with the personpersone reflected back at him. His long white tee and beanie hat were constantly adjusted, although this was more a tic than a choice. And it did little to ease his body discomfort.

Elliot first attempted to discuss his sexuality with his mom when he was just 15. Instead of receiving support and understanding, he was met with denial. How is one expected to cope when a loved one rejects your truth? Elliot spent his teenage years yearning for understanding, seeking comfort in secret connections. However, these encounters left him feeling isolated, full of shame, and unfulfilled. 

As he reached his twenties, the pressure to find happiness in relationships that contradicted his desires became unbearable. For years, he’d traded his authenticity for professional success. Finally, the day arrived when hiding was no longer an option.

Six-year-old Elliot asked his mom if he could be a boy. "No," he was told, followed by assurances that he could do anything a male could. It was a sincere but naive reply. Elliot couldn't wear the clothes he preferred without getting odd looks. He couldn't play with the kids he wanted to without being ridiculed. He couldn't go a day without feeling alone.

But then, during the pandemic, everything changed. He and his petite dog, Mo, took walks around Riverside Park in New York. With his face hidden, joggers and walkers greeted him as "bro" or "bud," and occasionally as "Sir." The reflection of his body silhouette gave him a "rush." He recognized his true self.