Elliot Page opens up on the 'erosive and damaging' discomfort he felt going through puberty

Elliot Page has reflected on how hitting puberty and seeing his body change, not having even heard the word 'transgender' before, affected his mental health.

The 36-year-old actor publicly came out as transgender in 2020 and since receiving gender affirming care, feels 'joy' living in his body, as well as a deep gratitude.

However, Page's relationship with his body hasn't always been like this and his mental health took a massive hit particularly when he was going through puberty.

Ahead of Pride month - which officially began today (1 June) - Page sat down with ABC News for a new Pride Month television special.

In the preview clip for the special titled, The Freedom to Exist with Elliot Page: A Soul of a Nation Presentation, Page opened up about the affect puberty had on his body and mental wellbeing.

He explains: "When my body started to change, clothes sat on me differently, and all of that was just the beginning of really sort of disconnecting from myself and feeling a degree of discomfort that was very erosive and damaging."

Instagram/@elliotpage

Page also reflected on never hearing the word 'transgender' - at least probably not before he hit puberty - and how if it ever did come up it would be 'briefly in health class' accompanied by 'the sound of laughter'.

"The experiences I had in regards to bullying, it certainly only encourages the shame that literally makes you sick. The hiding, the self disgust," he continues. "'There’s something wrong with me’ - that narrative."

The actor explains the feelings of 'incongruence and disconnect' he felt having been assigned a gender at birth based on his genitalia but it 'not being the reality of who [he] was' - gender dysphoria - continued to 'chip away' at him.

Instagram/@elliotpage

Being an actor added to his gender dysphoria, with Page explaining: "I think it especially became complicated as an actor because people would just go, 'You’re an actor just put the f**king clothes on.'"

However, the 36-year-old resolves: "Needless to say, it was so much more than that."

The ABC News special is currently set to air on 6 June, the same date Page's first memoir is also set for release.

In a post about the memoir - which is titled, Pageboy - on Instagram, Page wrote: "Writing a book has come up a few times over the years, but it never felt right and quite frankly, it didn’t feel possible. I could barely sit still, let alone focus long enough to complete such a task. At last, I can be with myself, in this body. So, I’ve written a book about my story. [...]

"I'm so excited to share its cover with you now. At many points in my life, it felt unbearable to be in front of a camera, but making this cover with acclaimed photographer Catherine Opie (@csopie) was a joyful experience that I will never forget."

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence contact Mindline Trans+ on 0300 330 5468. The line is open 8pm–midnight Mondays and Fridays and is run by trans volunteers