Elliot Page Recalls Being Forced to Wear Dress for ‘Juno’ Premiere, Says ‘I Wasn’t Okay’

Elliot Page is looking back at skyrocketing to fame after Juno was released back in 2007.

In a new interview, the 35-year-old actor, who came out as transgender in late 2020, recalled by “closeted” and forced to wear a dress during awards season to promote the hit movie.

“I was closeted, dressed in heels and the whole look — I wasn’t okay, and I didn’t know how to talk about that with anyone,” Elliot admitted to Esquire.

While he “can’t pinpoint a ‘worst day,” Elliot said, “When Juno was blowing up — this sounds strange to people, and I get that people don’t understand. Oh, f–k you, you’re famous, and you have money, and you had to wear a dress, boo-hoo. I don’t not understand that reaction.”

“But that’s mixed with: I wish people would understand that that s–t literally did almost kill me,” he added.

Elliot went on to say that he was eventually able to start talking to Catherine Keener – whom he calls his “oldest friend in L.A” – after they start working on the 2007 movie An American Crime together. They first met when he was 19.

“I was living in a hotel by myself, and she came and got me. I lived with her,” Elliot recalled. “For my 21st birthday, she had a surprise party for me. I didn’t really know anybody, so everyone wore name tags. I wore one, too. Nobody knew me, and they brought these funny little gifts. It was really sweet.”

He also added that even has a tattoo dedicated to the 63-year-old actress, revealing that it’s the “first tattoo [he] ever got.”

“It’s my nickname for her, which is ‘c keens.’ That’s just under my top right shoulder,” Elliot revealed. “Keener taught me not to take bulls–t, to keep my feet on the ground, to live my truth and to take care of my heart.”

Make sure you get the scoop on Elliot Page‘s upcoming memoir and find out when it will be released.