TBH, a subplot worthy of Diablo Cody herself. During the filming of the 2007 indie hit Juno, Elliot Page and co-star Olivia Thirlby were apparently hooking up…a lot. And Page just revealed how joyful the relationship was during a formative time in his life.
Thirlby was the “first woman I had a suitably consensual sexual relationship with,” the Oscar nominee writes in his just-released memoir Pageboy, per People. Both actors would have been around 19 or 20 at the time of filming, but, writes Page, “she seemed so much older, capable and centered. Sexually open, far removed from where I was at the time.” Thirlby didn’t publicly come out as bisexual for another few years, but was apparently open about her sexuality in person, and told Page she was attracted to him (this was pre-transition) right away. Okay, might have to go back and revisit Juno knowing this, because I always thought Juno and Paulie were cute together, but if Juno and Leah is on the table…?
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Actresses Ellen Page (L) and Olivia Thirlby attend the Fox Searchlight Pictures’ Oscar and Independent Spirit Award nominees party held at the STK-LA restaurant February 22, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)Vince Bucci/Getty Images
“We started sucking face. It was on…We started having sex all the time: her hotel room, in our trailers at work, once in a tiny, private room in a restaurant. What were we thinking? We thought we were subtle…Being intimate with Olivia helped my shame dissipate. I didn’t see a glint of it in her eyes and I wanted that—done feeling wretched about who I am,” wrote Page. Seriously, I would watch this movie!
Elliot Page’s memoir details both the ups and the downs of his journey in the spotlight and along the sexual and gender spectrums. He also revealed in a new interview that a stranger openly threatened him on the streets of Los Angeles, an important reminder that no amount of privilege can shield a trans person from the hate and lack of understanding that sadly exist today. Let’s all be more like Olivia and celebrate, yeah?
