Speaking to Elle UK, Ellen Page accuses Hollywood of double standards on homosexuality, arguing that her sexuality should not affect the roles she is chosen for.

“There’s still that double standard. I look at all the things I’ve done in movies: I’ve drugged a guy, tortured someone, become a roller-derby star overnight. But now I’m gay, I can’t play a straight person?” she said. 

However, she did say that Hollywood is improving its attitudes to diversity.

“Zachary Quinto [of Star Trek fame] is out, and he stars in one of the biggest blockbuster franchises, I have four projects coming up – all gay roles. People ask if I’m concerned about getting pigeonholed. No one asks: ‘Ellen, you’ve done seven straight roles in a row – shouldn’t you shake it up and do something queer?’

Ellen Page said her six-year battle to bring gay rights drama Freeheld to the big screen informed her decision to come out in February 2014.

“What blows my mind is how my own personal journey paralleled the development of that movie. It felt wildly inappropriate to be playing this character as a closeted person. Coming out was a long process, though.”

Freeheld will be released here on 19 February.

Page’s comments come after Ian McKellen said on Monday  that homophobia was as much of an issue in Hollywood as racism.

“No openly gay man has ever won the Oscar; I wonder if that is prejudice or chance. My speech has been in two jackets … ‘I’m proud to be the first openly gay man to win the Oscar.’ I’ve had to put it back in my pocket twice,” he said.

Read Ellen Page’s full interview in the March issue of Elle UK.