“Shame had been drilled into my bones since I was my tiniest self, and I struggled to rid my body of that old toxic and erosive marrow,” he wrote in the book.
In another poignant moment from Pageboy, Page recalled the first time he kissed a girl, describing the encounter with warmth and detail.
“I met Paula when I was twenty. Sitting on our friend’s couch, eating raw almonds with her knees to her chest, she introduced herself, ‘I’m Paula.’ The sound of her voice radiated warmth, a kindness,” Page shared.
“It wasn’t so much that her eyes lit up but that they found you. I could feel her looking. We went to Reflections. It was the first time I had been to a gay bar, and would be my last for a long time.”
Amid his many experiences, Page was recently asked what message he would deliver to his younger self. His response, shared in a video posted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Instagram, has resonated deeply with fans.
“My message to my younger self would be, just like, ‘You know who you are, and please embrace that,’” Page said.
The Umbrella Academy star elaborated, “I understood my truth. I felt it very strongly, and it was all of these external forces and noises that pushed and pulled, and made me sort of lose track of who I was.”
“I guess to my younger self, I’d say that the discomfort and pain you’re feeling—that is not yours. That is theirs. And to just keep going on the journey of embracing who you truly are,” he added.
Concluding his heartfelt message, Page said, “That’s what’s going to lead you to happiness.”
Fans and followers quickly praised Page for his touching words and the strength he’s shown throughout his journey.
One commenter wrote, “What a peaceful, loving response. Such a king and role model.”
Another added, “Thank you for living in your truth and liberating yourself. You know who you are more than anyone else in this world. Thank you for sharing your story—it could save a life.”
A third fan commented, “Such wonderful, intelligent words.”
Elliot Page’s openness continues to inspire many, serving as a beacon of hope for those navigating their own paths to self-discovery and acceptance.
