‘Freeheld forced me to come out as gay’

Actor Ellen Page says her upcoming film Freeheld compelled her to announce she is gay last year.

The 28-year-old star, who announced she is gay in February 2014, said <g data-gr-id="21">Freeheld</g>, in which she stars 

alongside Julianne Moore, inspired her to open up about her sexuality for the first time and forced to her ‘get over’ herself, reported Female First. 

The actor portrays Stacie Andree, whose late partner Laurel Hester’s fight to pass on her pension benefits to Stacie made headlines before her death in 2006.

“Stacie and Laurel’s story is incredibly inspiring and did take a lot of courage, particularly in a time of such unimaginable difficulty.

“It really did make me go, ‘Dude, just tell people you’re gay. Just get over yourself, honestly, and support those who are not as privileged.<g data-gr-id="22">’</g> It’s like, ‘You have privilege, so do something with it.’ I remember thinking, ‘Ellen, how in God’s name could you make this film and not be out?’ “ 

Ellen first signed on to star in the film seven years ago and believes it finally came about at the perfect time.

“What’s interesting to me is how long it took to make the movie, for it to finally come together, and how my internal progression toward coming out was naturally in line with it.”