Elliot Page Discusses Why ‘The Odyssey’s’ Success Hasn’t Led to New Roles
Christopher Nolan’s films are renowned for propelling careers into new heights, transforming supporting actors into household names almost overnight. Given this trend, when Elliot Page secured a role in Nolan’s latest masterpiece, many anticipated a surge of new offers coming his way.
This expectation was understandable, especially considering the film’s monumental success. ‘The Odyssey’ premiered in July, featuring a star-studded cast that included Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway, and it went on to earn an impressive $1.555 billion at the global box office, marking a reunion for Page and Nolan sixteen years after their collaboration on ‘Inception.’
However, Page revealed that the anticipated calls have not materialized. In an appearance on the “On Film…With Kevin McCarthy” podcast, he expressed that it has been somewhat challenging for him to secure roles at the moment, attributing this to well-known reasons related to his transgender identity.
When McCarthy assumed Page was inundated with offers following the film’s triumph, Page clarified that this was not the case, humorously inviting anyone interested to reach out to him. He emphasized that this quiet period is not by choice, as he is eager to find meaningful work moving forward.
Page reflected on how his standing in the industry has evolved since he came out as transgender in 2020. He noted that perceptions of him have changed, suggesting that there may be merit in proactively connecting with filmmakers and developing projects rather than passively waiting for offers. While he wishes he could be the type of actor who easily walks into auditions and gets cast, he acknowledged that his current journey relies more on people specifically wanting him for roles.
This introspection was accompanied by a personal look back at his earlier collaboration with Nolan, where Page admitted to feeling uncomfortable during the filming of ‘Inception’ prior to his transition, despite enjoying the overall experience. He described completing ‘The Odyssey’ as an emotional full-circle moment, stating that his deeper self-awareness now allows him to express himself in ways he couldn’t before.
Page’s portrayal of Sinon, the Greek soldier in ‘The Odyssey,’ faced controversy even before the film’s release, attracting criticism from right-wing commentators, which Nolan dismissed as irrelevant, arguing that these critics had not yet seen the completed film. Whoopi Goldberg also defended Page’s casting during a segment on ‘The View,’ advising those who disagreed with it simply not to watch the movie.
Despite the surrounding discourse, Page mentioned that he has mostly remained an observer of the broader reactions, catching glimpses through Canadian news coverage and the plethora of memes circulating online rather than engaging with it directly.
With no new projects currently on the horizon, Page’s remarks have reignited discussions about the treatment of transgender actors in Hollywood, even in the wake of significant awards-caliber success.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!