Elliot Page opens up to Oprah about coming out as transgender

As multiple anti-transgender bills are passed in the United States, Canadian actor Elliot Page says he's taking the opportunity to speak from the heart in a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The conversation will air Friday on Apple TV+.

Page, the Oscar-nominated actor from Halifax,toldVanity Fairin an interview released Wednesday thathe hopes the discussion with Winfrey will combat the"misinformation and lies" in anti-trans legislation.

Five U.S. states have passed laws or implemented executive orders so far this year limiting the ability of transgender youths to play sportsor receive certain medical treatment.

"These bills are going to be responsible for the death of children. It is that simple," Page, 34, told the magazine.

"So [talking to Oprah] felt like an opportunity to use a wide-reaching platform to speak from my heart about some of my experience and the resources I've been able to access whether therapy or surgery that have allowed me to be alive, to live my life."

The actor is best known for his Oscar-nominated role in Juno,as well as thesci-fi action hitInception, and most recently The Umbrella Academyon Netflix. Last year, Page shared in a lengthy post on social media that he is trans and his pronouns are he and they.

In a preview clip released by Vanity Fair, Page opens up to Winfrey about the moment he decided to come out publicly.

Page told Winfrey that posting thenews widely felt imperativeto not only counteract the anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans backlash he'd been seeing in the U.S., but for his own well-being.

He came out as gaybefore his 27th birthdayuntil then, Page said he had "never even touched" someone he was inlove within public.

"Any kind of sensation of feeling that again, there was just no way I could do it," Page told Winfrey.

"With this platform I have, the privilege that I have, and knowing the pain and the difficulties and the struggles I faced in my life let alone what so many other people are facing it absolutely felt just crucial and important for me to share that."

In aTime cover story last month, Page said when he came out on social media as transgender, he knew there would be negative and positive reactions.

He said he was anticipating support and love, but also a massive amount of hatred and transphobia, adding: "That's essentially what happened."