Actress Ellen Page reveals she is 'happier than she could have imagined' after coming out as gay as she appears in striking black and white magazine shoot

Gay actress Ellen Page said she is happier than ever since publicly coming out as she stars in a new striking magazine cover shoot.

The Oscar-nominated star of Juno, who grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and now lives in Los Angeles, said her happiness since coming out is 'more than I could have even imagined'.

The 29-year-old, who came out at an LGBT conference in Las Vegas on Valentine's Day just over two years ago, told Malibu Magazine she is a 'different person' since making the announcement. 

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Striking: Actress Ellen Page, 29, pictured staring into the camera as part of stunning photoshoot for Malibu Magazine, as she reveals she is happier than ever since coming out publicly

Pensive: Ellen, who lives Los Angeles, pictured looking thoughtful, says her happiness is 'more than I could have even imagined'.

Profile: Ellen, pictured side-on, says she is a 'different person' since making the announcement about her sexuality

Ellen, who is in a relationship with artist Samantha Thomas, said: 'I think even leading up to do it you know something will shift in you, or obviously you know some part of you has already had some kind of a shift to get to that point, needless to say, and you expect to be happier.

'But it’s more than I could have even imagined. I feel happier than I’ve probably ever felt, and also I’m inspired again creatively. 

'When you feel like you can live as your authentic self in the world, then you get to really authentically create and explore, and you’re filled with this...I don’t know...I guess passion again.'

The shoot features contrasting images of Ellen - some monochrome and others in color - in a combination of strong, sensitive and vulnerable poses.  

Ellen said there has been a 'shift' in attitudes towards LGBT, that more people's stories still need to be told as pictures from her new striking magazine cover shoot were unveiled.

Monochrome: Ellen, pictured gazing into the camera for her cover shoot for the latest issue of Malibu Magazine, is in a relationship with artist Samantha Thomas

Aviator: Ellen, pictured in sunglasses, says she was 'inspired again' by landmark personal moment

Busy: Ellen, pictured standing in the street for the shoot, said she pitched her travel documentary series Gaycation herself to Viceland co-president Spike Jonze

She said she was 'inspired again' after the landmark moment in her life as she talked about her passion for her latest projects.

She has been filming in Japan, Jamaica, Brazil and the US for her documentary series Gaycation and co-starred with Julianne Moore in Freeheld, a film based on the true story of same-sex couple Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree.

She said both she and Julianne wanted to make the film because they were 'inspired and angered' by the story. 

Under-representation, she said, was also a motivation for pitching the idea for Gaycation to Viceland co-president Spike Jonze.

She said: 'I think everyone working on the entire film [Freeheld] felt this sort of heart investment in the project.

Puppy love: Ellen, pictured with her dog Patters, says she has been learning to surf fromSamantha

Spotlight: Ellen, pictured smiling for a shoot, said more LGBT stories need to be told

'And it’s also just the simple fact that you want to have more LGBT stories represented, and obviously we’re seeing that shift, but of course we need more. 

'A big part of making Gaycation, too, is being able to have the community represented and those stories told'.

She said filming for the television show has been a privilege, adding that she felt 'moved and honored' when they filmed the first 'Pride' celebration in Jamaica. 

She said: 'There have been so many different kinds of interesting, because the show is about the joys and the triumphs, or just the nightlife or the day-to-day life or what have you, but sadly it’s also about discrimination and the struggles that a lot of people face who are oppressed. 

'So it’s hard, the word "interesting". We were able to film and be a part of the very first public sort of "Pride" celebration in Jamaica, and I just can’t even begin to say how moved and honored I felt to be able to witness that and grateful to the people who allowed us to be there, because a lot of people didn’t want to be interviewed anonymously, or would drop out kind of last minute.

Moving: Ellen, pictured recently in New York, says she was 'moved and honored' shooting Gaycation

Public figure: Ellen, pictured left at a reading in Los Angeles and right discussing Gaycation in New York, both earlier this month, says surfing reminds her of acting

In demand: Ellen, pictured right with girlfriend Samantha, left, at a dinner in Washington DC, co-starred in Freeheld with actress Julianne Moore

'Understandably so, because the situation is difficult for a lot of people there. 

'And I guess that was just such a special moment, to have the opportunity to meet people who are just so much more brave or courageous than you could ever imagine being in your life'. 

Ellen said Samantha has been teaching her to surf which she compared to acting.

She said: 'I love it! It’s one of those things that I haven’t been doing for that long, less than a year, but it’s hard to imagine it not being in my life.

'I just feel so grateful to my girlfriend, Samantha, for giving me that gift.  

Fortunate: Ellen, pictured right at a gala with Samantha, left, at Rome Film Festival, says her girlfriend is an 'awesome teacher'

'She’s an awesome teacher, and I feel like it changes you in some way, like with my anxiety levels or my stress levels. It’s an amazing thing.'

She added: 'I mean, just getting in the ocean is definitely a thing unto itself, and to have the opportunity to learn to challenge yourself that much, you know, I like that challenge. 

'And then when it comes to the actual act of surfing, I suppose it feels — maybe this will sound actor-y and annoying — like something similar to acting in the sense that there’s pretty much nothing else you could think of other than exactly what you’re doing in that moment, and you can’t ever anticipate what that moment’s going to be because you can’t anticipate what the ocean’s going to do. 

'Or the waves that treated you so nicely the day before, despite potentially looking exactly the same, might not treat you as nicely the next day.'