Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1987, Canadian actor Elliot Page landed his breakthrough role as a 14-year-old vigilante in the 2005 psychological thriller Hard Candy. His haunting performance led to starring roles in X-Men: The Last Stand and Juno, a coming-of-age cult hit that won the young star an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of teen pregnancy.
Following the runaway success of Juno, Page appeared in a string of indie and blockbuster films alike, including notable roles in Smart People, Whip It, Inception, Tallulah and Freeheld. Since 2019, he’s been starring in the critically-acclaimed Netflix ensemble show The Umbrella Academy, based on the comic book series by Gerard Way.
Alongside his acting career, Page is also a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He came out as transgender in a 2020 statement on social media, and has been vocal about his personal experiences with depression and dysphoria since. Pageboy, a memoir of his journey to self-discovery while navigating the harsh pressures of Hollywood, is set for release this summer.
Asked to describe his perfect morning in an interview for Esquire, Page told the magazine, “For me, euphoria is simply the act of waking up, making my coffee, and sitting down with a book and being able to read.” The actor went on to recommend seven of his favorite recent reads, including work by Carmen Maria Machado, Ashley C. Ford, and Alexander Chee. Exploring themes of isolation, intimacy, and queer identity, find his recommendations below.
Elliot Page’s Reading List
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (also rec’d by Emily Ratajkowski)
“One of my favorite books ever.” -EP
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broome
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee (also rec’d by Emily Ratajkowski)
Real Life by Brandon Taylor
“It’s fantastic. He’s such a phenomenal writer, it just floors you.” -EP
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
“Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. The last two pages of her book are just this whole beautiful piece about: I don’t want to forgive. But I forgive myself. I’ll pick it up every once in awhile just to read that.” -EP
Amateur by Thomas Page McBee
“Amateur is a beautiful and powerful book written by the superbly talented Thomas Page McBee, who I was lucky to work with on the new season of Umbrella Academy… This memoir is such an important piece of trans literature to support and one that spoke to me deeply.” -EP
(via Esquire)
Looking for an Amazon alternative? Support local, independent booksellers by shopping Elliott Page’s reading list on Bookshop.org: