After years of quietly struggling with gender dysphoria, the Juno alum came out as transgender in December 2020. “My joy is real, but it is also fragile,” he wrote in a social media statement at the time. “The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared. I’m scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the ‘jokes’ and of violence.”

He added, “To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”

True to his word, Elliot has since continued to be open about his journey, including his recovery from top surgery. “Dysphoria used to be especially rife in the summer,” he captioned a shirtless selfie in May 2023. “No layers, just a T-shirt – or layers and oh so sweaty – constantly looking down, readjusting my oversized T. It feels so f’ing good soaking in the sun now, I never thought I could experience this, the joy I feel in my body.”

The Umbrella Academy star also detailed his transition in his 2023 memoir, Pageboy.