‘The Odyssey’ Star Elliot Page Opens Up About His Transformation: “The Surgery Saved My Life”
Actor Elliot Page once shared his deeply personal journey in a chat with Oprah Winfrey on her show, The Oprah Conversation, where he talked about the massive relief he feels after coming out as transgender.
In the interview, Page explained how gender-affirming healthcare completely changed his life. He also warned that new laws targeting transgender people are dangerous and could have deadly results.
Page came out as transgender in December 2020 and later shared with Time Magazine that he had top surgery. Talking to Winfrey, he described how amazing it feels to finally look in the mirror and feel good.
He said that small everyday moments now bring him tears of joy instead of the panic he used to feel. It’s getting out of the shower and the towel is around your waist and you’re looking at yourself in the mirror and you’re just like, ‘There I am.’ And I’m not having the moment where I’m panicked. I’m not having all of these little moments, Page said. He explained that just wearing a T-shirt and feeling comfortable in his own skin is something he is experiencing for the first time, giving him a huge burst of free energy. He called it a mix of feeling miraculous but also just feeling like himself.
However, Page noted that his experience is tied to privilege. He credited trans women of color for fighting throughout history and putting their lives on the line, which paved the way for him. He admitted he does not know where he would be without the resources he has.
He chose to speak out about his surgery to show everyone how vital this care is, saying, I wanted to share with people just how much it has changed my life. And I want people to know that not only has it, you know, been life changing for me. I do believe it’s life-saving, and it’s the case for so many people.
The actor also spoke out against lawmakers who are introducing dozens of bills that target transgender youth, trying to restrict their healthcare and school sports. Page said these politicians are telling total lies. He pointed out that major medical institutions fully back transgender healthcare because it keeps people safe. Page warned that if kids are blocked from healthcare and sports, children will die.
To back this up, CBS News cited data from The Trevor Project. Their research shows that over ninety percent of LGBTQ youth feel that recent politics hurt their mental health. Even worse, the group estimates that an LGBTQ youth tries to end their life every forty-five seconds in the United States.
Page hopes that by using his fame to spread awareness, people will understand these struggles better. On top of his activism, Page is also staying busy with his acting career and is set to star in a new film called The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan.
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