Elliot Page regrets making homophobic joke in Juno film

17 years since coming-of-age hit Juno first landed in cinemas, title actor Elliot Page has issued an apology for a homophobic remark his character made in the movie.

Page's first taste of critical acclaim came following the comedy-drama movie's release Juno, alongside the likes of Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, J. K. Simmons and Alison Janney.

Presenting as female back then, the actor - who has since come out as transgender, and now presents as male - played an independent-minded high-schooler who accidentally falls pregnant, before making the decision to put her baby up for adoption.

The movie bagged a 'Best Original Screenplay' at the 2007 Academy Awards, and was nominated for a further three.

Page, who was just 20 when the film landed on the silver screen, was put up in the 'Best Actress' category at the same ceremony, but sadly lost out to La Vie en Rose's Marion Cotillard.

In the years since it was released, the now 37-year-old Canadian actor has retrospectively discussed what it was like to star in such a successful movie.

Unfortunately for Page, however, not every memory from that time of his life is a happy one.

The film was released in 2007 (Searchlight Pictures)

The movie star - who has since gone on to bag roles in Netflix sci-fi hit The Umbrella Academy and blockbuster X-Men: The Last Stand - recently expressed regret over a line her character says, which was accused at the time of poking fun at the LGBTQ+ community.

In the film, whilst Juno and her baby's adoptive parents are discussing baby names, she rejects the moniker Madison, claiming it 'sounds a little gay'.

Reflecting on the error, Page claimed the comment 'wasn't something I totally registered at the time'.

He told Bustle: "Of course, now that I’m older I do. So many movies I loved as a kid are just rampant with homophobia and transphobia and biphobia, and I’m not excusing it by any means.

"It really hurts the industry and it really hurts film. We need more stories. We need more representation. We need more points of view."

The actor apologised for his remark (Bonnie Biess/Getty Images for Lesbians Who Tech & Allies)

Ever since the film's release, the actor's life has changed completely, and he's since become an active member of the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2014, whilst still presenting as female, he bravely came out as gay - and six years later, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, he revealed he was actually a transgender man, having kept his true identity hidden for as long as he could remember.

"Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot," he wrote on social media at the time.

"I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life. I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive."

Page added: "To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better."