Elliot Page Talks Gucci Guilty, 'The Umbrella Academy,' and More
Already the face of Gucci Guilty, actor and producer Elliot Page flew to Milan to attend Sabato De Sarno's debut menswear show for Gucci. Ahead of the show, he spoke to L'OFFICIEL about his beauty routine and what's next for him.
Elliot Page never really had a relationship with fashion until he found clothes that fully expressed his identity. Then came his collaboration with Gucci. In 2023, the Oscar-nominated actor and star of the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy became a face of the Gucci Guilty Elixir De Parfum. Page appeared in a dreamy short film for the perfume campaign, directed by Glen Luchford, where he found himself in an opulent and mysterious location, alongside actress Julia Garner and rapper A$AP Rocky in a story about the emotional connection between three vibrant personalities. While in Milan for Gucci Men's Autumn/Winter 2024 show, L'OFFICIEL met with Page to discuss his beauty routine, his connection to the fashion world, and his upcoming projects—including a short film shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination.
ELLIOT PAGE: I felt so thrilled and excited and honored and also a little incredulous. I thought, “Really, they chose this guy here?” I've never called myself a fashion guy, so it was really nice to be welcomed into that world and be part of such an engaging campaign, just from a creative standpoint. I worked with all the wonderful people part of the Gucci team. I had a really great experience I loved working with Julia Garner and A$AP Rocky. The three of us really hit it off, a connection was created and we spent special moments together. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
L'O: What was the campaign's message in your opinion?
EP: I think it was about the beauty of feeling yourself, of feeling represented, of being able to express yourself fully without restrictions. For me, it was also a love story where three personalities meet. Love in its beauty, in its pain, in its joy.
L'O: Between the two fragrances Gucci Guilty Elixir De Parfum Pour Homme and Gucci Elixir Pour Femme which do you prefer? What are the sensations while wearing your favorite perfume?
EP: I definitely gravitate more towards Gucci Elixir Pour Homme, probably because it has a slightly more earthy, smoky feel. It makes you feel confident, sensual, and why not a little sexy at times.
L'O: What role does perfume play in defining a person's mood?
EP: I think perfume obviously means a lot to each of us. We have perfumes linked to memories, as we know, which can transport us to a completely different time and place. So for me, the choice to use any perfume leads to the sensation of being in a certain state of mind, such as when preparing for a romantic date.
L'O: What does beauty mean to you?
EP: Beauty is feeling good in your own skin, exploring what makes you feel good, the path that puts you in front of the true representation of how you see yourself as beautiful, full of confidence in yourself.
L'O: How was it taking part in Sabato de Sarno's debut menswear show for Gucci?
EP: I couldn't wait! I had an advanced preview of some of the looks a few days before and I asked myself, "When will this collection go on sale?"
L'O: Can you describe the look you chose?
EP: I think you can define it as a sporty chic look. It's a perfect mix of tailored and sporty, but very sleek and simple: a black woolen cloth bomber jacket, a white shirt, a thin black tie, cropped cigarette trousers, and a pair of black brushed loafers.
L'O: Can you tell us something more about your relationship with fashion in general? What is fashion for you? What role does it play in your life?
EP: The relationship I have with fashion has really changed in recent years. You know, in the past, I understandably felt very disconnected from fashion, because whatever type of clothes I wore didn't fit, didn't reflect my identity, and weren't right for me. I felt a profound detachment from this world. Now, however, I understand that wearing these tailor-made clothes, creative and classic at the same time, is what's right for me. I am grateful to Gucci for helping me rediscover fashion in a fun and completely new way for me.
L'O: Could it have been the perfume that completed your look?
EP: Absolutely. Yes. The last finishing touch that adds a little spice.
L'O: Last year, you released your memoir Page Boy. What message did you want to convey to the public?
EP: It can be incredibly difficult and painful to dig through the different layers of who we are to find our true self. And this applies to everyone: straight, queer, cis, trans—It doesn't matter. But it's seriously worth it. And often the thing that scares us the most is the direction in which we have to go to find ourselves. At the end of that journey, the joy you feel is so different from anything you ever thought you could feel. My book is about this. It's my story and my desire to share it with everyone.
L’O: Later this year, the final season of The Umbrella Academy will air. Is there anything that you can tease about the upcoming season?
EP: I really wish I could. The honest truth is I can pretty much give you no information other than I'm very excited and I think it's gonna be fun and action-packed and full of the typical chaos we see with the Hargreeves family.
L’O: How does it feel to be saying goodbye to a project you've been working on for the last six years?
EP: It's actually kind of sad. I think it hit me the other day, I was doing the final ADR for it and I was like, Oh, wow, this is like my last moment of doing anything as a Victor. It really sort of sunk in and I definitely got a bit emotional but at the same time, you know, I'm ready to move on and do different and new things, but I'm most certainly just gonna miss everybody so much.
L’O: Absolutely. You and your production company, Page Boy Productions recently produced the short film, An Avocado Pit which has been getting some major Oscar buzz. How has working on projects as a producer given you a new perspective as an actor?
EP: Yeah, absolutely it has. I've been producing a bit since I think I was 28 or something. And now, obviously, it's a much larger part of my life. I think what it teaches you, I'll speak for myself, as an actor is in many ways, it's made me less self-involved as an actor. More understanding of the intricacies and elements and everything that needs to come together on a day-to-day, hour-to-hour basis when you are making something like a film or a television show. It's given me a lot more perspective and I feel grateful for that.
L’O: Can we expect to see you taking on any more behind-the-scenes roles in the coming year?
EP: Yes, my company Page Boy Productions, I'm fortunate to say, is going really well and we've got a lot of things in development. So, I'm really thrilled that I get to work with wonderful people.
L’O: Do you have any other upcoming projects that you're excited about?
EP: A film I did called Close to You is gonna come out in the summer that premiered at TIFF and I had an incredible time making that. So, excited for that to be in the world. And a film coming out this year called Backspot that my company produced that stars Devery Jacobs who's amazing in it. And D.W. Waterson directed it. And I'm so excited about An Avocado Pit. I mean, to be honest with you, I had nothing to do with that film other than seeing it and being totally blown away and reaching out to this exceptional filmmaker. This was in the summer, and only recently did I go on as an executive producer. But to me, it's so thrilling, I hope people see it. And I'm just so thrilled for the filmmaker and the actors. It's a beautiful film.
L’O: What's something that brings you happiness that people may not know about?
EP: Roller coasters. I think that's probably what, you know, why would anybody know that about me? I love roller coasters. That is one of my favorite things to do. I don't care what it is, I'll go on it. I love it, it brings me so much joy. I used to go to Six Flags outside of LA all the time, the Six Flags in Jersey, Canada's Wonderland outside of Toronto. I hope to explore more because I really am a roller coaster fanatic.