Ellen Page tears up as she recalls being in closet: 'I wish no one had to live that way'

After revealing earlier this month that it was her starring role in new LGBT drama Freeheld that inspired her to come out to the world, Ellen Page has recalled her time in the closet in an emotional appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, saying she wishes no one had to live in such a “toxic” way.

After years of keeping her sexuality a secret from the public, Page has quickly made a name for herself as an outspoken LGBT rights advocate in the months since her highly publicised coming out in February 2014. The X-Men star was praise for attending the inaugral Pride Jamaica in a country where homophobia violence remains endemic, and for publicly confronting anti-gay Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz at a recent state fair.

Asked by Colbert if she ever feels burdened by being one of the LGBT community’s most prominent members, an emotional Page replied: “No, I feel so grateful for it. I feel so grateful for how I feel now compared to how I felt when I was a closeted person. It is not a nice place to be.

“I was sad. It is toxic. I wish no one had to live that way.”

She continued: “As a person, I’m a very privileged person. I’m a very privileged gay person, and those who are affected most in our community are the most vulnerable.

“I fel so grateful to be able to talk about things or share stories and meet incredible, inspiring people, or have connections with people who’ve been inspired by me coming out, which is an incredible connection to have with a human being.

“So really, what I feel is gratitude.”

As well as Freeheld, which tells the story of a lesbian couple’s fight for same-sex pension benefits after one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, the 28-year-old also gave her opinion on the ‘religious freedom’ debate engulfing American in the wake of anti-gay marriage clerk Kim Davis’ brief incarceration.

Asked if she had sympathy for those whose beliefs were being challenged by the advancement of LGBT rights, Page gave a typically classy reply.

“Religious liberty and religious freedom is so important, it’s so crucial,” she said. “But what’s unfortunate throughout history [is that] religious liberty has been used to justify discrimination based on gender, based on race – and now it’s the LGBT community.”

Page recently took aim at those who call straight actors “brave” for playing gay roles; pointing out that the same would never be said for her if she were to play a heterosexual character.

Ellen Page tears up as she recalls being in closet: ‘I wish no one had to live that way’

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