Elliot Page Returns To The Limelight With A Groundbreaking Film
Elliot Page, the talented 36-year-old actor, graced the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, and it’s safe to say that the world was eagerly waiting for his return. Elliot, who has been away from the big screen for six long years, made a triumphant comeback with “Close to You,” a movie that has already created a buzz for all the right reasons.
In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE, Elliot expressed his feelings of gratitude, excitement, and a bit of nervousness, which is quite usual before a movie premiere. “This was a complete highlight of my career, personally,” he stated.
The film, directed by Dominic Savage, boasts a unique approach as it is mostly unscripted and relies on improvisation by the cast. Sharing his admiration for Dominic’s creative process, Elliot said, “The experience of making a film in this way is not something I’ve done before. I feel grateful to be a part of his work and hope to do it again.”
Elliot’s absence from the silver screen has been notable since his last feature film appearance in 2017’s Flatliners. However, Close to You marks his return with a powerful role as Sam, a transgender man returning to his hometown for the first time since his transition.
As Sam embarks on his journey home, he reconnects with Katherine, played by Hillary Baack, a friend from high school whose own life has become intricately complicated. Their encounter stirs up unresolved feelings from the past, setting the stage for a captivating narrative.
Remarkably, Elliot’s appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival was made possible despite the ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Close to You is an independent production that received an interim agreement from the guild, allowing Page to proudly walk the red carpet.
This groundbreaking film comes on the heels of Page’s memoir, Pageboy, which was published in June. The actor believes that the book has brought him closer to his fans, saying, “People have been very kind and supportive and shared how it’s helped them or how they’ve connected with it. That’s meant the absolute world to me, and, yes, having a book coming out was one of the more anxiety-ridden times of my life.”
“It does feel like a weight’s lifted,” he added, reflecting on the positive impact of sharing his personal journey.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor described Close to You as a “liberating” experience, coming three years after he bravely came out as transgender. He emphasized how his newfound sense of self has transformed his approach to acting, stating, “The way I get to feel working now is far more embodied coming from that foundation, versus entering and not feeling that way. It’s a huge shift. Doing something like this, complete improv, before, would’ve been close to impossible.”
While Close to You does not yet have a scheduled release in the United States, it is set to premiere at Canada’s Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival on September 23. The film promises to be a thought-provoking and emotional journey, with Elliot’s remarkable performance at its heart.
