J.K. Simmons praises ‘Juno’ co-star and trans rights trailblazer Elliot Page

A single of the most touching arcs in Juno, the beloved 2007 coming-of-age comedy-drama, revolved around the unyielding guidance the eponymous expecting teen (performed by Elliot Web site) obtained from that character’s seemingly-gruff blue-collar dad, Mac (J.K. Simmons).

Even though the oft-quoted film by screenwriter Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman was a pop-lifestyle phenomenon and box-place of work strike that gained four Oscar nominations (such as an acting nod for Web page), the prolific Simmons (himself an Oscar winner 7 years afterwards for Whiplash) admits he has not held in contact with his onscreen offspring in excess of the years.

“I experienced an wonderful time doing work on Juno, Elliot’s been just one of my favorite actors to enjoy due to the fact then, and a great actor to perform with,” Simmons, 66, informed Yahoo Enjoyment through a new job interview advertising and marketing his new sci-fi motion film The Tomorrow War, in which he performs the grizzled conspiracy-theorist father to Chris Pratt’s time-traveling alien fighter.

“But honestly I’m form of a ‘go to work and go home’ type of a dude, so I do not remain in contact with a lot of folks from perform. Most of my good friends are individuals I’ve regarded considering that 1975.”

Simmons has, even so, held up with Page’s broadly shared, broadly celebrated milestones in latest months.

In December 2020, Web site introduced that he is transgender in a effective Instagram write-up that has garnered much more than 3.5 million likes. “Hi good friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my identify is Elliot,” he wrote. “I come to feel fortunate to be producing this. To be in this article. To have arrived at this put in my daily life.”

In his announcement, Page also expressed “overwhelming gratitude” for the assist and made use of the instant to call out troubling studies on violence and hate crimes against transgender folks, notably Black and Latinx trans ladies. Page, now 34 and currently starring on Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, proceeds to be one of Hollywood’s most well known trans rights activists. He has because become the to start with transgender male to look on the deal with of Time magazine, candidly talked about his transition with Oprah Winfrey, and shared a shirtless poolside picture of himself in his 1st pair of swim trunks with the hashtags “transjoy” and “transisbeautiful.”

“It’s been excellent to check out that transpire,” Simmons advised Yahoo Entertainment, noting Page was currently iconic just before his changeover, but now has become “iconic in a new way” and “a positive influence for a large amount of folks.”

In other terms, 14 many years right after Juno, Mac stays a proud and supportive papa.

Video clip generated by Jen Kucsak and edited by Jimmie Rhee

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