In a guest column for Esquire published on Wednesday, Elliot Page penned an emotional, freeform essay reflecting on coming out as transgender, the state of the world, and what makes him happy now. "I can't overstate the biggest joy, which is really seeing yourself. I know I look different to others, but to me I'm just starting to look like myself," he states.
Looking back, however, he recalls the mental hardships he experienced doing press for "Juno," the Diablo Cody-penned film that won an Oscar for its original screenplay and was nominated for best picture. Page — who was just 20 at the time — made history for debut in Jason Reitman's coming-of-age abortion drama, for which he earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as the film's titular protagonist Juno MacGuff. The acclaim and publicity, however, proved to be difficult for Page as he struggled with "intense depression, anxiety, and severe panic attacks" while having to suppress his own identity.
