81-year-old renowned actor and LGBTQ+ activist, Sir Ian McKellen, has shared support for X-Men co-star, Elliot Page, after he came out as transgender at the end of 2020. In an interview with Attitude Magazine, McKellen said he was “very happy” for Page, but disappointed he didn’t realise they were struggling with their identity when they worked together on 2006 Hollywood movie, X-Men: Last Stand.
McKellen reflected on his time working with Page: “I remember Elliot Page, in one of the X-Men, sat as close as we are now. And I had to speak when they’d finished, and I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Nobody could hear what they were saying. So, I said, ‘Look, if you can’t speak up, would you mind when you’re finished speaking, just dropping your hand so I know when you’ve finished speaking?’ And then they came out years later and suddenly you couldn’t stop them talking. You heard everything.”
He continued: “I’m so happy for Elliot. And so disappointed in myself that I didn’t detect what their difficulty was with communicating. Everything gets better [when you come out] because you get self-confidence. You get better in terms of relationships, friends of all sorts, family, if you’re lucky. And in my case, I think in every case, your acting is bound to change and improve.”
Elliot Page came out on social media in December 2020, where he said: “I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot. ‘I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life. I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self. I’ve been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place.”
