ROTTEN TOMATOES: Ellen Page on Juno: The RT Interview

Ellen Page on Juno: The RT Interview

RT has an impromptu chat with the rising star.

by Jen Yamato | December 06, 2007

Canadian actress Ellen Page is an anomaly in Hollywood. The 20-year-old star of this week's Juno has been in movies since the age of 10, has the face of a 14-year-old and the pop culture-savvy soul of a Gen-Xer. Although you might know her best as the mutant superhero Kitty Pryde in X-Men: The Last Stand, or from her breakout role as a seemingly innocuous young girl in 2005's independent thriller Hard Candy, Page truly balances the mainstream and art house sets with her latest role in Juno.

Arguably this year's Little Miss Sunshine (albeit with a healthy injection of razor-sharp wit and references that fly faster and more furious than in an episode of Gilmore Girls), the Jason Reitman-directed flick, scripted by firebrand newbie scribe Diablo Cody, is a sweet 'n sassy film about teenage pregnancy that has earned overwhelming praise from critics since its debut at the Telluride Film Festival in September.

As the titular teen -- a Patti Smith-worshipping, lingo-slinging, socially-rebellious tomboy accidentally impregnated by her best friend -- Page is utterly believable as a 15-year-old old soul, not completely unlike how she seems in real life. RT slipped into a booth with her at Fox Searchlight's Toronto Film Festival bash for a great chat about movies, Canadian boys, and music that we both love.

So, critics love Juno (to the tune of a 92 percent Certified Fresh Tomatometer rating)! It's got quirky characters, but they're all grounded in reality and relatable.

Ellen Page: I think it's from a variety of things -- I think it's from an amazing script, and a wonderful director, Jason Reitman, who creates such a good tone. He doesn't want it to be contrived and over-the-top. When you have such a good script, you don't want to force it. You just want to sit with it, and figure out where the hearts of the characters are and just dive into that, you know? Just be easy with it.

Did you know immediately when you read the script that you wanted to play Juno?

EP: I read the script a couple years ago -- it was one of those things that takes time [to get off the ground] -- and I fell in love then, but it kind of just dwindled away, didn't have money, so on and so forth. And then it came back around again, and I got excited all over again, and the next thing I knew -- here I am! It's insane!

Juno herself is a bit of a pop culture junkie. What kinds of movies do you like?

EP: All kinds...I love everything. The 400 Blows is one of my favorite movies, and when I think of new cinema I love Lynne Ramsay -- I love Ratcatcher and Morvern Callar. I love all kinds of movies though. What did I see the other day that was awesome? My Summer of Love.

Do you tend to see movies that are more in line with the kind of movie you'd like to make?

EP: It's funny, sometimes I see movies and I get almost angry -- because I'm like, I can never make that movie. It stems from a jealousy, but from a good kind of jealousy. Do you know what I mean? It's inspirational.

But no, I love all kinds of movies! I love horror, to a certain extent. And comedy -- I saw Superbad the other day! I thought it was awesome.

Michael Cera is awesome in that! And I love Jonah Hill...

EP: Yeah, he's great too. He came up and visited Michael when we were in Vancouver. They are just so funny together. But I love Michael. Seriously, I can't say enough good things about the guy. He's super sweet. He's one of the nicest people I've ever met. And he's a teenage boy!

Is he nice because he's Canadian?

EP: [Smiling] I've met some mean teenage boys that were from Canada.

You had more than one movie at Toronto.

EP: Well, there's this, and there's [The Tracey Fragments] that I shot before Juno, which is, like, a small, crazy Canadian movie directed by Bruce McDonald, who is an awesome Canadian director. It's much more dark and edgy, and heart-wrenching than Juno. And then the other film is Stone Angel, that Ellen Burstyn stars in; I'm really not in that film much, it was just an honor to be a part of -- it's a novel that's been a Canadian legacy. And Kevin Zegers from Transamerica and I kind of did a cameo thing.

Considering the independent films and dramatic roles you've chosen, was X-Men a completely different experience?

EP: It is totally different, but it's just a different kind of movie. You can't really compare it to this kind of filmmaking. It's a lot of... you know, and then you're wearing leather suits and running through fire, which is super cool, but there's a lot of waiting around and it's not really about the same things. It's about other things. It's as simple as that.

Juno has a great soundtrack -- Belle and Sebastian, Sonic Youth, The Moldy Peaches, etc. Do you share Juno's taste in music?

EP: I know this is going to sound annoying, but I love all kinds. Lately I've been listening to CocoRosie's new album. I just saw them live in Vienna, which was amazing. New Young Pony Club, their new album...I don't know what it is about them, but it almost give me a sugar rush and I get really turned on, to be honest.

And I'm a huge Moldy Peaches fan; the second time Jason and I met, I was in his office and he said, "What do you think Juno would listen to?" And I said, "Oh, the Moldy Peaches!" I went on his computer, played him the Moldy Peaches, and next thing you know -- it's in the film. Who should have a soundtrack credit? Me.

I'm a Cat Power fan--

That Cat Power song in Juno, "Sea of Love," makes me cry!

EP: Have you heard her cover album? Oh my God. That is always in high rotation! Oh, and I'm a massive Patti Smith fan.

So is Juno! Did that translate to her character from you?

EP: Yes!

I love Juno's taste in music, and how it informs the dynamic between Jason Bateman's character and her in terms of the kind of music they like. It rings so true.

EP: Well, I'm really passionate about music -- I get really emotionally connected, probably in a weird way. But I'll play characters and I'll create a playlist and now, certain songs are hard for me to listen to. Yeah, I think I get way too emotionally connected to music...

Juno's traveled around the festival circuit all year building this great buzz. What's your normal life like, compared to this?

EP: Completely different! I go, like, camping every weekend.

Juno is now in limited release and will be expanding December 14.

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

thinkblue_2258 writes:
on Dec 06 2007 06:30 PM

Can't wait til this thing goes wide. I hate living in Nowheresville, USA. We didn't even get The Ten. How gay.

(Reply to this)

erob writes:
on Dec 06 2007 06:58 PM

How to create a Natalie Portman in 4 easy steps:
1. Preteen girl stars in movie where she is seen as a sexual object. (Portman- The Professional, Page- Hard Candy)
2. As a teen, star in a crappy sci-fi movie (Portman- Star Wars, Page X3)
3. Star in an independent coming of age movie about a maladjusted young woman. (Portman-Garden State, Page-Juno)
4. Continue to make mostly good movies from that point on... hopefully

Thank You! You've been great! Don't forget to tip your bartender.

(Reply to this)

Y4USay writes:
on Dec 06 2007 07:30 PM

Juno look good movie. I watch.

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T45Red writes:
on Dec 06 2007 09:43 PM

This looks like a good movie, and with the Tomato Meter rating it at 93% right now, it probably is. Also, I read this interview and it seems like she gave a lot to the character.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Dec 07 2007 01:15 AM

First of all, don't even compare Ellen Page to Natalie Portman. Page is on a different...page...altogether.

Second of all, Eeeeeew you see Portman in The Professional as a sexual object? Gross Ick Yuck!

(Reply to this)

RT-Ryan writes:
on Dec 07 2007 02:58 AM

You know, Jen, I read your comment before I realized it was you who wrote it, and I thought to myself, "Wow, she wrote EXACTLY what I was thinking."

And I'm not just saying that because we work together. Honest.

(Reply to this)

wordweaver writes:
on Dec 07 2007 03:19 AM

Is it just me or is there something not right about Ellen Page? I've seen the trailer for Juno and she's, well bland and uninspiring. She doesn't seem like an actress of range to me. I guess only time will prove me right or wrong.

Oh and about the whole Natalie Portman as a sexual object in The Professional thing, that is gross, I mean really, really GROSS.

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digitalsoul68 writes:
on Dec 07 2007 06:05 AM

From IMDB: "The original script had more scenes with 'awkward sexual tension' between Matilda and Leon. These scenes were later cut out for the American release dubbed 'The Professional', but were included in the 1996 European release, as well as in the deleted scenes of the special edition DVD."

Yes, it is sick, but that how it was apparently.

(Reply to this)

dahluzz writes:
on Dec 07 2007 10:31 AM

yeah, 'the professional' was supposed to be lolita-lite with some action instead of gettin it on. I hope page does follow portman's career arc. I heard mr. magorium's wonder empoium 2 just got the green light!

(Reply to this)

jsearls writes:
on Dec 07 2007 02:06 PM

If anyone here hasn't seen "Hard Candy"....it's a must! Ellen Page's acting is amazing, and the character she plays is convincingly disturbing (but in a good way). Because of this, I totally want to see Juno.

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vitajex writes:
on Dec 07 2007 06:05 PM

I live in Minneapolis and I have to say that, as good as Juno may or may not look, the local coverage of Diablo Cody, the screenwriter, is incredibly annoying. She used to be a writer for a city arts weekly paper here so everybody says junk like "Local Girl Makes Good", conveniently forgetting that she's from Chicago. I'll admit she's very attractive in a Suicide Girls way, but she seems like the kind of person whose main goal in life is seeming hipper than everyone else (I'm basing this on the pieces of hers I've read). Enjoy it while it lasts, Diablo (if that even is your real name!) because as soon as those *harumphs* start to sag and the wrinkles start, you'll be out the door faster than Tara Reid.

(Reply to this)

Truye writes:
on Dec 08 2007 01:16 PM

You know, I don't know much about Diablo Cody. Mainly because this is her first movie and blah, blah, blah. However, correct me if am wrong, I am 100% sure Tara Reid has never written a movie...Or anything of any importance. It's the nice thing about being a writer is that you can get old and saggy and no one cares because you are a writer and no one has to see your face.

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vitajex writes:
on Dec 10 2007 12:05 PM

In reply to this comment (#1339278)
True, writers can get old and saggy and no one cares... generally speaking. What I meant to imply in my post however is that Diablo Cody is getting attention because of her good looks more than because she's a 'good' writer. Think about the simple fact that she was on-set... for the first movie she's ever written! That's unheard of. If she had been old and saggy, do you honestly believe she would have been allowed on set and then subsequently shipped around the country on a press junket? When Hollywood treats most writers like the crazy old aunt that gets chained up in the basement when company is over, why is this first-time, largely unproven writer being shown off? Because she is attractive! How many other first time writers even have their name mentioned in connection with their films? Not many.
Tara Reid was offered by me as a woman who was touted as a star, until she 'lost' her looks, at which point she ends up making 'Alone in the Dark' and other direct-to-DVD tripe and becomes a joke on TMZ.
I was drawing a correlation between Diablo Cody and other female artists who get more attention for their looks than for their talent. Whereas there are women artists whose talent is underestimated because of their beauty, the talents of many more female artists are OVERestimated due to their beauty.

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sass writes:
on Dec 11 2007 09:09 PM

This is the most amazing movie I've seen all year. I have to see it again and maybe again. So glad I live here:)

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frogleg writes:
on Dec 12 2007 08:30 AM

So, I never got the pedophilic angle from the Professional the first time I saw it, but I caught it again a couple of years ago and I thought it was really blatant. Maybe when I saw it a couple of years ago I saw the deleted scenes; I can't remember for sure.

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BowieSwimmer writes:
on Jan 01 2008 06:55 PM

Umm...
I love Ellen Page.
You have no idea.
So let's not insult here ever again?
Ok, thanks a bunch guys.
That's about it.

ps: Jen, because you have interviewed, let's just say...
I'm super jealous. But not mean jealous, but good jealous.
Hey, kind of like Ellen Page's jealous!
Hopefully this makes sense. I doubt it.

(Anddd cut.)

(Reply to this)

lifeandstars writes:
on Jan 16 2008 04:58 PM

In reply to this comment (#1333823)
I think Natalie Portman and Ellen Page differ incredibly. Ellen Page became best known through her work in more independent films (ie. Hard Candy), where ease Portman became more well known only after her role in Star Wars which was of course a big budget film. This is my observation anyways...

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 30 2008 02:55 PM

Juno was ausome. I like Ellen Page, she was good in Hard Candy to. Smart People looks really good. She was even good in X3.

(Reply to this)