Actor Olivia Thirlby, known for her breakout role as Leah in Juno, once made an admission about her sexuality; one that resurfaced after Elliot Page revealed intimate details about their relationship in his 2023 memoir Pageboy.
In Pageboy, Elliot Page, 36, reflected on his time filming the 2007 indie hit Juno, revealing that he and his co-star Olivia Thirlby developed a passionate off-screen relationship.
Page described their connection as instant and magnetic, writing, “I was taken aback the moment I saw Olivia Thirlby. Sexually open, far removed from where I was at the time. But the chemistry was palpable.”
He said that their mutual attraction quickly turned physical, adding that they were intimate frequently during filming.
“Her hotel room, in our trailers at work, once in a tiny, private room in a restaurant,” Page recalled.
“We thought we were being subtle.”
Page explained that their relationship helped him overcome feelings of shame about his sexuality at the time. “Being intimate with Olivia helped my shame dissipate,” he wrote.
“I didn’t see a glint of it in her eyes, and I wanted that – done feeling wretched about who I am.”
Olivia Thirlby and Elliot Page pictured together in 2008. Credit: Vince Bucci / Getty Images.
Thirlby’s Earlier Comments on Sexuality Resurface
While Thirlby has not publicly commented on Page’s memoir, her own past statements about sexuality have resurfaced in light of his revelations.
In a 2012 interview with Brooklyn Magazine, the actress shared that she doesn’t identify as completely straight.
“Loving people is a necessary part of being human, and it is very difficult to love people in secret,” Thirlby said. “And I am not one hundred percent straight.”
At the time, her remarks were praised for their openness, as she joined a growing number of actors who were candid about fluid sexuality in an era when Hollywood was far less inclusive.
Life After Juno
Olivia Thirlby has since built a steady acting career, appearing in films like Dredd, The Wackness, and Above the Shadows, as well as TV series including Y: The Last Man.
She has been married to Jacques Pienaar since 2014, per Hollywood Life.
Elliot Page, who came out as trans in 2020, has continued to reflect publicly on identity, love, and self-acceptance.
His memoir includes stories not just about Thirlby but also about relationships with other women in Hollywood, including actress Kate Mara, PEOPLE reported at the time.
Page and Kate Mara pictured in 2017 at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of their flick 'My Days of Mercy'. Credit: GP Images / WireImage / Getty Images.
A Moment of Openness in Hollywood
Thirlby’s earlier admission (“I am not one hundred percent straight”) continues to resonate with fans who see her as part of a larger conversation about sexual identity in the entertainment industry.
While her romantic history with Page made headlines, it’s Thirlby’s willingness to speak authentically about love and attraction that remains a defining part of her story.