Elliot Page discusses filming 'Umbrella Academy' after coming out as trans
Last month, the cast and crew of Netflix‘s The Umbrella Academy reunited to begin filming season 3. For the new episodes, Elliot Page is back with the Hargreeves clan as Vanya.
Now, Page has opened up about how filming for The Umbrella Academy has changed since publicly coming out as transgender and non-binary last year.
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This month, Page has made history as the first openly transgender man to ever appear on the cover of Time magazine. In the new interview, Page talks about his transition and childhood memories of feeling uncomfortable in his body. As well, Page opens up about returning to the set of The Umbrella Academy.
When Page first learned about the character of Vanya, he instantly identified with her because of how detached she was from the rest of the world.
“I related to how much Vanya was closed off,” Page tells Time.
In just two seasons, viewers have already seen major growth in Vanya. After her suppressed powers took over and ultimately caused the apocalypse in season 1, Vanya manages to find her voice and control her powers in season 2. As a result, Vanya transforms from a character crushed by self-loathing into someone with more self-confidence than ever before.
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Similarly, Page’s The Umbrella Academy co-workers have seen a big change in the actor since filming for season 3 began.
“It seems like there’s a tremendous weight off his shoulders, a feeling of comfort,” showrunner Steve Blackman tells Time. “There’s a lightness, a lot more smiling.”
Page further tells Time that returning to the set of The Umbrella Academy has been validating. However, it’s also sometimes awkward as his co-workers adapt to his pronouns.
“It’s going to be an adjustment,” Page says on people addressing him with the wrong pronouns.
Elsewhere in the interview, Page talks about the struggles he faced after the success of Juno. The film, which earned him BAFTA, Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, sent Page into a whole new caliber of fame. As a result, Page felt pressure to act and look a certain way in Hollywood. Eventually, Page began suffering from depression, anxiety and panic attacks as he dealt with society’s expectations to appear feminine.
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“[I didn’t know] how to explain to people that even though [I was] an actor, just putting on a T-shirt cut for a woman would make me so unwell,” Page says.
Now, since coming out as transgender and non-binary, Page has received numerous job offers for transgender-related projects. From directing to acting and producing, Page’s team has seen an increase in these offers since Page publicly came out in December. Ultimately, Page’s comfortability with his body has made him look forward to acting more than ever before.
“I’m really excited to act, now that I’m fully who I am, in this body,” Page says. “No matter the challenges and difficult moments of this, nothing amounts to getting to feel how I feel now.”
Page’s full interview with Time is available here and the cover can be seen below.
“I’m fully who I am.” Actor Elliot Page and the fight for trans equality https://t.co/ozlpoqa2sb pic.twitter.com/OAKogfmoRx
— TIME (@TIME) March 16, 2021
More on Elliot Page and The Umbrella Academy
Back in 2014, Page publicly came out as gay at Time To Thrive, a conference that promotes the welfare of LGBTQIA+ youth.
“I’m here today because I am gay,” Page said during Time To Thrive. “And because maybe I can make a difference, to help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility.”
Since then, Page has heavily advocated for the LGBTQIA+ community over the years. Just last year, Page called out the Trump administration and the politicization of gay rights in America.
“It’s not a debate, whether Donald Trump is racist or not,” he told the Guardian. “Gay marriage is not a debate. And the media needs to stop claiming it is.”
Then, on Dec. 1, Page publicly came out as transgender and non-binary. In a detailed social media post, the actor thanked everyone for their support and the warmth he’s received from the LGBTQIA+ community.
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“I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey,” Page said on social media. “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. I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society.”
— Elliot Page (@TheElliotPage) December 1, 2020
The post received love from Netflix and The Umbrella Academy on Twitter which reassured fans that Page would return as Vanya in season 3.
“So proud of our superhero! WE LOVE YOU ELLIOT,” The Umbrella Academy‘s tweet said.
???So proud of our superhero! WE LOVE YOU ELLIOT!!!
— Umbrella Academy (@UmbrellaAcad) December 1, 2020
“So proud of our superhero! WE LOVE YOU ELLIOT! Can’t wait to see you return in season 3,” Netflix’s tweet said.
So proud of our superhero! WE LOVE YOU ELLIOT! Can’t wait to see you return in season 3! ? ?
— Netflix (@netflix) December 1, 2020
Netflix has already made changes to Page’s credits on The Umbrella Academy. Now, Elliot Page appears on both the screen in every episode and in the series’ description. Netflix has also updated all of the descriptions on Page’s other projects on the platform including Inception and Tallulah. Earlier this month, Twitter user @rucifurr noticed the changes and decided to tweet about them.
“I’m rewatching The Umbrella Academy and OH MY GOD! they literally edited the whole series to say Elliot Page, not just the little Netflix card. I’m in love with this show the attention to detail is ridiculous.”
!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Rs0H4HVqty
— ?RUCIFUR? (@rucifurr) March 10, 2021
In mid-December, Page shared another post thanking fans for their love and support. Shortly after this, even more details about The Umbrella Academy season 3 were revealed. In January, fans finally met the actors playing the members of the Sparrow Academy. As Blackman previously confirmed, season 3 picks up right after that massive season 2 cliffhanger.
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After returning from Dallas in the ’60s, the dysfunctional Hargreeves siblings think they’re back in the present time. However, as Number 5 warned, their tampering with time travel has consequences. As a result, Sir Reginald Hargreeves went on the create the Sparrow Academy instead of the Umbrella Academy. The powerful group includes six new individuals along with Ben Hargreeves who is completely different from the character fans loved in previous seasons.
No. 1 or Marcus is being portrayed by Justin Cornwell while Justin H. Min‘s Ben is returning as No. 2 in the Sparrow Academy. Britne Oldford is portraying No. 3 or Fei and Jake Epstein is taking on the role of Alphonso, also referred to as No. 4. Some fans many recognize Epstein for his long on-screen portrayal as the teen heartthrob Craig Manning on Degrassi: The Next Generation.
The Sparrow Academy’s No. 5 or Sloane is being played by Genesis Rodriguez and Cazzie David is Jayme or No. 6. However, the Sparrow Academy’s No. 7 is raising some eyebrows. The final member of the academy is Christopher, an “existential dread-inducing psykronium cube.”
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Currently, the actor behind this mysterious cube is unknown. However, Deadline reports that the character will have a voice. All of this has led to speculation that The Umbrella Academy co-creator Gerard Way may finally make his highly-requested cameo in the series and appear as No. 7. So far, however, nothing has been confirmed.
As filming for season 3 got closer, The Umbrella Academy began sharing even more behind-the-scenes details. Back in January, Min confirmed that the first table read-through for the season had happened. Shortly after, Min shared a few videos on Instagram of him uniting with his new Sparrow Academy family for production rehearsals.
210126 IG story pic.twitter.com/DH12Jq7syd
— 유죄_GIF (@justinhmin_gif) January 25, 2021
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When production for the new season finally began, the Sparrow Academy assembled to show off some new attire. All of the members except for the actor voicing Christopher teased the start of filming with matching jackets that have the Sparrow Academy’s logo on the front. Of course, many fans have already seen this new symbol thanks to that difficult season 2 Easter egg hunt.
“Let the games begin,” Min said on Instagram.
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More recently, in mid-February, Page confirmed he was back on the set of The Umbrella Academy. He posted a cryptic photo of a director’s chair with the new season 3 logo. Page captioned the image with “OMG we’re back again,” which is a reference to Backstreet Boys‘ iconic song “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).” It’s also a callback to season 2 when Robert Sheehan‘s Klaus incorporated pop song lyrics such as these throughout the episodes.
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Are you ready for season 3 of The Umbrella Academy? Let us know in the comments below.
