Ellen Page, who came out as a gay woman during the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's inaugural Time to Thrive conference in February, is now opening up about her decision to make the big announcement.
"I am here today because I am gay," Page told a room filled of people at the Las Vegas event earlier this year.
During a recent interview with Flare Magazine, the 27-year-old actress admitted that she was not completely confident about coming out.
"I was very nervous. I was very nervous, yes," Page told the magazine. "I was emotional, deeply, deeply emotional."
The actress said she wanted to stop hiding and added that her coming out had been eight years in the making. She told her parents when she was just 19. Page said her decision stemmed from wanting to love someone freely.
"You think you're in a place where you're all, 'I'm thrilled to be gay, I have no issues about being gay anymore, I don't feel shame about being gay,' but you actually do," she said. "You're just not fully aware of it. I think I still felt scared about people knowing. I felt awkward around gay people; I felt guilty for not being myself."
Page posed for the magazine in a black blazer and a simple black bra top.
The "X-Men: Days of Future Past" actress told Ellen DeGeneres that she felt a sense relief after opening up about her sexuality.
"I knew I would be a happier person," Page said. "I did not anticipate just how happy I would feel in every aspect of my life. Just an ease and a comfort. And it's really been quite extraordinary to feel just the shift. It was pretty much overnight, too."
Page added: "It's so nice to be at work and talk about an ex or, you know, get to wear what you want and not have a conversation about it. It's so nice to have people come up to me and tell me their story or, you know, say, 'Hey, I'm closeted. Can you give me advice?' Those are really beautiful moments to get to share with people."
However not all the reception Page received was positive. While on a flight the actress received a letter from a pastor telling her that she would "burn in hell" for being a homosexual.
Earlier this month, Out Magazine named Page the nation's 29th most powerful gay celebrity. The actress joins the list of familiar names, including CNN anchor Don Lemon, basketball player Brittney Griner, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
