Elliot Page's Surprising View on Juno: Why the Star Wants Nothing to Do with Its Promotion
Elliot Page's Complex Bond with Juno's Marketing: Unveiling the actor's turbulent connection with the promotion of the acclaimed film
Actor Elliot Page continues to have a deep affection for Juno, but he prefers to distance himself from any promotion associated with it. Juno, released in 2007, marked a pivotal point in Page's career as it propelled him into the spotlight. In the film, Page portrayed the lead character, Juno MacGuff, a sixteen-year-old grappling with teenage pregnancy, ultimately opting to give up her child for adoption. Page's exceptional performance in Juno earned him a well-deserved nomination for Best Actress at the Oscars. The film itself received additional nominations for Best Picture, Best Directing, and ultimately won in the category of Best Original Screenplay.
Recently, in a TikTok video featuring elizabday, Page was asked if he would consider rewatching Juno.
Page cherishes the Juno filmmaking experience and expresses a preference for not revisiting any memories associated with promoting the film. While Page thoroughly enjoyed portraying the character and wouldn't mind watching the movie itself, the time spent on promotion and the awards season evokes negative emotions due to the need to conceal their true identity. Page expands on these experiences below:
When it comes to something like Juno, I don't think it would bother me to watch. I genuinely loved bringing that character to life and admired who she was. There was an undeniable freshness and novelty in how she presented herself. It remains one of the most fulfilling endeavors in my filmmaking career. The real challenge lies in the aftermath. I could definitely watch Juno, but I'd prefer to avoid revisiting the period of promoting it and leading up to the Oscars and the entire campaign season. Those memories are ones I'd rather not dwell on - the times when I had to conceal my true self. It involved disguising my identity, while being deeply closeted and genuinely in love. Unlike the cisgender heterosexual individuals who freely attended events with their partners, my girlfriend wasn't able to accompany me.
Elliot Page's Poor Relationship with Juno’s Promotion
After starring in Juno, Page publicly announced their membership in the LGBTQ+ community. They initially came out as a lesbian seven years after the release of Juno, and later revealed their identity as a transgender man in late 2020. Since coming out in 2014, Page has been a prominent advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly within Hollywood.
However, during the release of Juno in 2007, Page was not open about their sexual orientation. Page has previously shared their experience during the Juno promotional campaign, revealing that stylists at Fox Searchlight pressured them into wearing a dress. Despite requesting to wear a suit for a more formal attire, Page's request was denied and they were compelled to wear a dress.
The interview revealed that he is still haunted by how he handled the publicity and Oscar campaigns for Juno. Although Juno remains highly regarded by many, its aftermath is fraught with complexity. It is hoped that Page's reflection on that period will make studios more cognizant of these matters.
