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Ellen Page mini-bio:Ellen Philpotts-Page, the daughter of Martha Philpotts, a teacher, and Dennis Page, a graphic designer, was born February 21, 1987 in Halifax, Nova Scotia - where she still resides. The Canadian actress attended the Halifax Grammar School until grade 10, went to the Neptune Theatre School, performing in a stage version ofCharlie and the Chocolate Factoryin the fifth grade, and graduaded from the Shambhala School in 2005. Ellen began acting at the mere age of 10, appearing as Maggie MacLean in the TV moviePit Pony(1997), which would spin-off a television series in 1999. Only 10 years old, her strong performance garnered her a Young Artist Award nod, as well as a Gemini (the Canadian equivalent of an Emmy) nomination. "I just fell into it, I guess, when I was 10. I was asked by a local casting director to audition for something and I did, and I was short and had brown hair so I got the role. A lot's changed since then. I'm still short and I still have brown hair, so it's working for me," comments Ellen on her start. "Pit Ponywas just supposed to be a neat little experience, but then that turned into a television show which turned into something else and so on and so forth until I was about 15 or 16 and I just started really falling in love with it, yeah." Ellen says that she nearly made the biggest mistake of her career at age 13, when she got a major part on an American sitcom. "I was super-excited, but my parents said no. It's a good thing. I would have had to move to LA, and I can't even imagine what I would be like now. I shudder to think." It's hard to envision Page as a Lohan-like burnout, but she says she has "a lot of compassion" for the tabloid stars, "because I feel like a lot of them were extremely hypersexualized at a very young age. Having their whole lives whored out must be a hard thing to deal with."
2002 was a busy year for Page and her rising star. Instead of going to California, she starred in a variety of Canadian television shows and movies. Ellen appeared in the seriesTrailer Park Boys, which received a Gemini nomination for best ensemble cast, and Rideau Hall, as well as the feature films,Marion Bridge, andThe Wet Season. The following year, after appearing inTouch & Goand the Canadian TV movie,Mrs. Ashboro's Cat, she made her US television debut on the Lifetime Network'sHomeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story. In 2003 Ellen was also seen inLove That BoyandI Downloaded a Ghost. "It's kind of fun when people try to label me a cool, indie girl, and I'm like, 'No, I'm pretty sure I was in a movie calledI Downloaded a Ghost, which is about a girl who downloads a ghost.'" For her performance as Emily Anderson in the 2004 film,Wilby Wonderful, Page won a best actress award at the Atlantic Film Festival. She also appeared as a regular in the popular Canadian sci-fi series,ReGenesis.Page's next film brought the actress her first major American publicity.
David Slade'sHard Candy(2005), a provocative film in which Ellen portrayed a strong-willed and enigmatic 14-year-old Hayley who is targeted by an internet predator - but turns the tables, exacting revenge on her would-be attacker. "I was in Toronto and I read the script and I had just shaved my head for a film so I sent a tape - but I had a shaved head. I guess David liked it but the producers were like, 'For Christ's sake, David, she has a shaved head. And then later I flew down and auditioned and luckily they gave me the role.'" The script made a big impression on Ellen, who had been struggling to find original roles written for teenage girls. "It totally blew me away. First of all, I found it just incredibly engrossing and obviously original. And then on top of that, to read a role written for a teenage girl with so much passion and intelligence... That was extremely refreshing because most scripts I get are like girlfriend of the lead at this point or oh, she's doing cool things and then she gets a crush on a boy or something like that." Her searing performance caught the eye of Brett Ratner, the director ofX-Men: The Last Stand, who called her up to offer her the part of Kitty Pryde (aka Shadowcat). Page didn't have to audition for the role. "I actually hadn't worked in ages. AfterHard CandyI took the year off and went back to Halifax where I'm from and graduated from a wicked high school... And had a great year of just chillaxin' and being myself. Then I literally graduated high school, was like being a ridiculous teenager and then ended up getting the call. Brett Ratner ended up calling me because he sawHard Candyand he really digs it. So he was like basically, 'Are you interested? I'm going to bring you out.'" Reluctant at first, Page accepted the role of the mutant who has the uncanny ability to walk through walls and phase through solid objects. The character had appeared briefly in the previous twoX-Menfilms, but was played by two different actresses. Ellen said working onX-Men: The Last Standwas a unique experience. "It's different and you have to understand that it's different. You have to look at it with a different perspective and know that one, yeah, it's a little more action-orientated and the other is not so much. So inX-Men, yeah, I wear a leather suit and run through explosions. Who gets to do that? It's fun and I'm grateful for it. I don't know. It's just about changing your perspective and it's cool to do something that's the complete opposite, or something that you never thought you'd be doing.
It's kind of the only reason to do it."Ellen Page came upon Diablo Cody's unique script forJuno(2007). "I read the script awhile ago, actually, it's kind of been a couple of years ago, and I was just blown away. And I'm the first to admit when I shouldn't be playing a role, you know? But I read it and I was like, 'Oh, my God, all I want is to do that role.' So I'm just really grateful." Ellen, who says she was willing to do anything for the role, won the role of the sardonic pregnant teen in Jason Reitman's indie comedy. "I was obsessive about getting this role, because I don't think we've ever had a character like Juno. She is abrupt and unapologetic, extremely independent, and listens to seventies punk-and the film doesn't dwell on her uniqueness, you know? There's no, 'Oh, look at this crazy outcast!' She's not interesting in relation to a stereotype - she wears flannel shirts and sweater vests, and it's just who she is.'" For her amazing performance as Juno MacGuff Page received the actress' breakthrough award from the National Board of Review, Academy Award, Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Actress.
In 2007 Ellen was also seen inAn American Crime,The Tracey FragmentsandThe Stone Angel. With all of the buzz aroundJuno, the future is looking bright for the "Tiny Canadian", who will next be seen inSmart People(2008),Drag Me to Hell(2009) and Drew Barrymore's directorial debut,Whip It(2009) - says Page: "I can't wait to kick ass on wheels!"Ellen is a huge fan of Patti Smith, credits Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster and Sissy Spacek as her favorite actresses and considers herself a feminist, who will not keep quiet when she's passionate about an issue. SaysJunodirector, Jason Reitman: "What's so special about this girl is that she's such a strong actress who slips into the role but in her off time is as normal a human being as I've ever seen," he says. "She's a normal girl who'd rather be camping in Nova Scotia than being at some Hollywood party." Does acting leave her with time - or even a desire - to take a breath and attend college? "I definitely think about it, but at this point I don't even know where, what or when," she says. "So I'm interested in furthering my education because I love to learn. But right now it's amazing - I love being able to kind of read whatever I want and learn about whatever I feel like focusing on." | | Eye color: Brown | | Height: 5' 1" , 1.55m | | Nickname(s): The Tiny Canadian | | Notable feature(s): Height | | Education: | | Family: Martha Philpotts & Dennis Page | | Resides in: New York, USA & Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | | Favorite Food: Sushi | | Political affiliation: | | Personal interests/hobbies: Basketball, Snowboarding, Skiing, Track, Cycling, Running, Swimming, Football (Soccer) | | Charities/Causes: | | Favorite Film: Les Quatre Cents Coups | | |
qaisarshah09posted 10 days ago
