Ellen Page And 5 Other Out And Proud Gay Actors
Ellen Page came out as gay on Friday (14th February). The X-Men and Juno actress made the announcement in a speech at the Time to Thrive conference held in support of LGBT youth. Page is not the only actor to have come out as gay, here's a rundown of 5 women in the television and film industry who have publically come out.
At the conference, Page said: "I'm here today because I am gay and because maybe I can make a difference. To help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility."
She continued by explaining how she had struggled to come to terms not only with her sexuality but how society would respond to her as a result of being openly gay. In her brave speech Page said: "I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain."
She continued by stating that she felt there was a huge amount of pressure in the film industry and that she had, as we all are, been pressured into conforming to "crushing standards" the industry places "on all of us."
The 41-year-old actress is best known for playing Lindsay Fünke on the US comedy Arrested Development as well as starring in Ally McBeal and Nip/Tuck. De Rossi is currently married to talk show host Ellen Degeneres, the couple married in Los Angeles in 2008.
De Rossi publically admitted she was gay, after years of tabloid speculation, in 2005 when it was revealed she was in a relationship with DeGeneres. In a recent interview de Rossi reflected on her first public appearance as a gay woman, saying: "I think when I really, truly came out was the [2005] Golden Globes when Arrested Development was nominated." She continued by discussing the impact on her relationship, stating "Ellen and I had been together for a month and I was very, very nervous going to that because I knew that I was going to meet up with her after the show, and that there was press. That was the first time we stepped out together as a couple, but, for me, it was the first time I stepped out as a gay woman, really."
De Rossi also shared the same feelings as Page with regards to how the film industry treats young actresses who are openly gay. In an interview with Good Morning America in 2010, as ABC reports, the actress described how she found it difficult coming to terms with her sexuality. She expressed how she "didn't want to be gay" and even suffered from eating disorders as a result of feeling unable to accept her sexuality.
Jodie Foster publically came out as gay at the Golden Globes last year (2013). Although she did not explicitly state her sexuality, she explained how she had never avoided telling those close to her.
Speculation surrounding Foster's relationships had been rife over the previous decades but this speech at the 2013 Golden Globes was the first time Foster had addressed such rumours. Of coming out she said "I already did my coming out about 1,000 years ago, back in the Stone Age." But continued to explain her decision to keep her private life from the press, saying: "If you'd had to fight for a life that felt real and honest, against all odds, maybe then you too would value privacy beyond all other things."
Foster was in a relationship with Cydney Bernard from 1993-2008 with whom she has two sons. She thanks Bernard for her support whilst coming out at the Golden Globes and for their time together. Foster has since been linked to Ellen DeGeneres' former girlfriend Alexandra Hedison.
Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch, the actress who won over the teenage audience with her portrayal as Coach Sue Sylvester on Glee, is openly gay. The actress was, until June of last year, married to psychologist Lara Embry. The couple married in 2010, stating their relationship had become increasingly difficult over the recent years.
At the time of their separation, Lynch said: "Lara and I have decided to end our marriage. This has been a difficult decision for us as we care very deeply about one another." Lynch is currently single but is happy being so.
Angelina Jolie may well be one of the most famous women on the planet and, owing to her highly publicised relationship with Brad Pitt, many forget she has publically come out as bi-sexual and previously been in relationships with women.
Jolie has been incredibly open about her sexuality since gaining public attention in the 1990s. In a 2003 interview, when asked if she was bi-sexual, Jolie replied: "Of course. If I fell in love with a woman tomorrow, would I feel that it's okay to want to kiss and touch her? If I fell in love with her? Absolutely! Yes!" She had previously mentioned in a 2000 interview how she "genuinely loves" other women, as reported by The New York Daily News.
Jolie was in a relationship with model and actress Jenny Shimizu whom she met on the set of Foxfire in 2006. The Salt actress is currently in a relationship with actor Brad Pitt whom she met in 2005. The couple have a number of biological and adopted children together.
Cynthia Nixon
The actress, best known for playing Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City, publically identified as bisexual in 2010 and is currently married to education activist Christine Marinoni. The couple began dating in 2004, a year after Nixon had separated from her husband of fifteen years, photographer Danny Mozes.
Nixon caused some controversy in 2012 when she announced she felt being bi-sexual was a choice. However she quickly backtracked on her remarks, issuing a statement which read: "while I don't often use the word, the technically precise term for my orientation is bisexual. I believe bisexuality is not a choice, it is a fact. What I have 'chosen' is to be in a gay relationship."
Nixon is best known for her role in Sex and the City.