Elliot Page Reveals Acting Offers Dried up After 'The Odyssey' and Says Casting Is 'Tricky' Since Transition

Elliot Page has revealed that his prominent role in Christopher Nolan's box-office smash The Odyssey has not triggered a flood of new film offers.

Speaking candidly during an appearance on the On Film... With Kevin McCarthy podcast, the 39-year-old star admitted that casting remains complicated for him.

Page suggested that industry perceptions have shifted since he came out as transgender in 2020, noting that he may need to take a more proactive approach to forging creative connections.

Despite facing hurdles in securing his next major project, the acclaimed performer expressed optimism about his craft, asserting that feeling more comfortable and embodied in his identity will allow him to deliver some of his finest performances yet.

The Oscar-nominated actor described the casting process as complicated for him at present, while joking about his Canadian background to explain why the phone may not be ringing.

Page Reflects on Hollywood's Changing View

Page came out as transgender in 2020, after establishing a major career that included Juno, Inception and the X-Men films. He later starred as Viktor Hargreeves in Netflix's The Umbrella Academy, with the character's transition incorporated into the show's third season.

Page continued to work after coming out as transgender, taking on notable roles in the years that followed. His performance in The Umbrella Academy gave him a prominent role on television, while his appearance in The Odyssey was a return to working with director Christopher Nolan more than a decade after Inception. But despite appearing in Nolan's highly anticipated epic, Page said the role has not resulted in a run of new offers.

The actor acknowledged that he may need to take a more active approach to finding opportunities rather than simply waiting for casting directors to contact him. 'Maybe there is something to reaching out to people and trying to create connections and projects that way. I think it's a little tricky for me to get cast right now. I think that's probably for obvious reasons,' he said.

He also indicated that he had previously been viewed in a particular way by the industry and that this perception is now different, suggesting that building relationships with filmmakers could help him find projects that suit him.

'The Odyssey' Was a Reunion

His role in The Odyssey reunited Page with Nolan more than 15 years after they worked together on Inception. Page played Sinon in the epic film, which stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and features an ensemble cast that includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson.

Page has spoken out about the response to the film's emotional underworld sequence involving Sinon, saying audiences have repeatedly told him the scene affected them.

Page Says His Best Work Could Still Be Ahead

The actor also reflected on how his transition has changed his experience of performing. Looking back at Inception, Page said although he 'had such a great time being in the movie,' working with Nolan, and valued the film, he was 'also personally really uncomfortable' at the time. He contrasted that with Juno, where he recalled feeling 'a bit more comfortable and embodied.'

Page now believes he can approach acting with greater comfort and focus. He said that feeling more at home in himself has removed a personal difficulty that previously affected his performances, saying, 'I don't have to deal with that when I'm acting in my performances.' He added, 'I feel like maybe I could do some of my best work now.'

Despite the lack of another major role, Page has not indicated any plans of leaving acting. His recent work includes Close to You, which premiered in 2023 and was released in cinemas in 2024, while The Umbrella Academy concluded its four-season run in 2024.

For now, the actor said he would 'really love to do, ideally, good work' as he looks towards his next project. He confirmed that he has no intention of stepping away from the profession and remains eager to secure challenging new projects that showcase his renewed artistic freedom.