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I've always admired Elliot Page as an actor. His work in movies like Hard Candy or An American Crime couldn't be more heartfelt and outstanding and Viktor Hargreeves is my favorite character in The umbrella academy (yep, I've binge watched the entire show).

I also applaud his passionate activism for the human rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and I highly recommend his documentary Gaycation, particularly when he confronts the appalling bigotry of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, exposing the nauseatingly homophobic views that our society still upholds. Page's unique perspective as a trans Hollywood actor who doesn't shy away from advocating for the less visible lives of other LGBTQ+ folks is a rather important one and I'm looking forward to learning more about him as a person. He's always struck me as an incredibly authentic and fascinating individual.

This book will be released in a month, exactly, and I'm counting the days to read it. I can't wait!

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Update on Jun 08, 2023


A sensitive, beautifully written and necessary account, especially for trans and queer people who would like to see their own experiences reflected and validated in empowering stories like this one. Needless to say, an unmissable read for those who simply admire Elliot Page’s extraordinary artistic talents and meaningful acting career.


I can tell an autobiography is worth remembering when I notice the author couldn’t be bothered to camouflage his own imperfections or to manufacture a pristine version of themselves. In this brief memoir, Elliot Page talks genuinely about the mistakes he's made in previous interactions and intimate relationships, reflecting about the ways in which his insecurities have sometimes led to rather negative outcomes. He admits to failings like jealousy and selfishness, as well as a tendency to avoid any conflicts or complex conversations, bottling up his feelings and shutting down instead of trying communicate his needs and expectations. Page also recognizes his privileges and recollects resorting to self-righteousness as a way of assuaging the guilt he feels for benefitting from a system where our comfort and consumerism come at the cost of human lives being neglected and entire ecosystems collapsing. Throughout the book however, a desire to learn and improve remains and the portrait of a compassionate soul emerges amidst the flaws that make him so real and so similar to us.


Voluntarily distancing himself from the pedestal we usually assign to the most talented actors of our time, Page recounts troubles and pains that many still believe to be incompatible with affluent and famous lives, and his narrative is nothing short of heartbreaking at some points. We rarely think that our ordinary experiences with loneliness, low self-esteem, depression and even bullying can also severely affect our favorite actors, but in reality fame often exposes young artists to a myriad of vultures, removing the necessary shield of privacy at a rather vulnerable age and, in certain circumstances, intensifying the pangs of their disillusionment. Page isn't afraid to take a stance against the culture of abuse that continues to go unpunished in Hollywood, calling attention to an evil that still lurks underneath the glamour of red carpets, box-office successes and glistening statuettes. The emotional burden of acting in heart-wrenching movies that depict beyond brutal realities, like An American Crime, is also discussed here, as well as the actor’s struggles with an eating disorder that was further amplified by his gender dysphoria.


I've always enjoyed vaguer and more subtle stories, as they’re a fertile soil where our imagination can flourish, but I also appreciate the intimate, authentic and sensitive way in which the author narrates the intricacies of his life, particularly when he describes his feelings of inadequacy about his sexuality and gender identity. It was deeply moving reading about the erosive and silent shame he endured during his formative years, a shame that so many LGBTQ+ individuals around the world experience anonymously every day. It takes courage to break free from the restrictive standards imposed by a society that claims to uphold equality while still rewarding so many purveyors of discrimination and transphobia, sweeping hate crimes under the rug as if the lives of those who stray from the norms had never truly mattered. I’m hailing from a country with the largest number or murdered trans and queer people in the world and it brings me hope to see someone as famous as Elliot Page trying to help shift this sad paradigm.


At last, I’m glad the person he's always been could finally find a home in his own body, as he now exudes the graceful confidence of those who managed to emerge victorious from the battle against the inclement waters of self-hate. Books like Pageboy are essential for building a world where, one day, all trans and queer people will also feel safe and beloved and empowered enough to declare: Whoever that is.