Sir Ian McKellen has praised Ellen Page for "coming out".
The veteran actor - who publicly revealed he was gay in 1988 - is glad the star has been open with the world about her sexuality and thinks it will serve as "encouragement" for other people to see "it does get better".
He told Buzzfeed: "All this has come to a happy conclusion, hasn't it? With Ellen Page ... coming out. That gladdened my heart so much.
"For people who are lonely... reading that about someone whose career they follow is a little bit of a help and encouragement to them to think it does get better."
The star revealed while he was always openly gay, once he made the decision to properly "come out" he realised his life had become "a slightly better place".
He added: "Anyone in public life who comes out, comes out primarily for themselves, and their life is immediately improved. That's what happened to me. The world [became] a slightly better place."
Ellen Page revealed the news in a passionate statement earlier this month.
The 'Juno' star said: "I'm here today because I'm gay. And because maybe I can make a difference - to help others have an easier and more hopeful time.
"Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility. I also do it selfishly, because I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out.
"My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain."

Dame Judi Dench says "retire" is the "rudest word" she knows.
The 79-year-old star has no plans to stop acting any time soon and hates being described as "old" or "vintage", preferring to be praised for her enthusiasm rather than her longevity.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she said: "It's the rudest word in my dictionary, 'retire'. And 'old' is another one. I don't allow that in my house. And being called 'vintage'.
"I don't want any of those old words. I like 'enthusiastic' and I like the word 'cut' because that means you've finished the shot."
The 'Philomena' actress also opened up about macular degeneration, an eye condition often leads to the gradual loss of central vision.
She admitted: "I never want to make much of it, but it is difficult - very, very difficult. I can't read anymore. I can't paint like I used to. I try to watch movies, but it's quite difficult.
"But these are all of the negatives. I don't want to really think about all that. What I can do, I do. And I somehow get by."

Former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt has got married.
The 32-year-old singer has tied the knot with her partner Max Rogers, who revealed the news in a relatively low key post on his Twitter account, describing the ceremony as "mint".
He wrote: "Just married.. And it was mint. @KimberleyKWyatt xx (sic)"
His message making the announcement was 'retweeted' by his new bride as she shared the news with her followers.
Meanwhile, her ex band mate Ashley Roberts took to Twitter to give her congratulations to the happy couple.
She said: "Congrats to the newly married couple @max_rogers @KimberlyKWyatt !! Was truly a fairy tale day. Here's to happily ever after (sic)"
Also at the wedding was Sinitta, and Simon Cowell's former girlfriend offered words of support to the newly weds.
She wrote: "@max_rogers +@KimberlyKWyatt Thank you for sharing your incredibly beautiful and romantic day with us.Your vows melted my heart.#stayblessed (sic)"
The couple announced their engagement in September 2013, two years after they started dating.
Sharing a picture of her ring at the time of the proposal, she tweeted: "I said yes!!!!"

Kylie Minogue has been "thrilled" by the reaction to her role on 'The Voice'.
The 45-year-old star took over from judge Jessie J for the latest series of the TV talent show, and she admitted it has made her even more excited to film for the Australian version.
She told The Sun newspaper: "I'm thrilled at the response to it. It's a brilliant show because everyone gets on.
"Now I'm looking forward to getting back to Australia and being on the Australian 'Voice.' "
Through her time on the UK version of the show, the 'I Should Be So Lucky' hitmaker has enjoyed a productive and fun few months, but she revealed the last year has been difficult after realising she is unlikely to fulfill her dream of becoming a mother.
She added: "Life took a different turn. I'd consider adopting. Part of my new beginning this year is to accept having a baby of my own might not be for me, which carries sadness."
She also admitted her split from Andres Velencoso has been "hard", but she is still hoping she will find true love.
She said: "The Andres break-up was amicable but hard. It would be lovely to find a person you're soulmates with for ever."

Ant and Dec promise the new series of 'Saturday Night Takeaway' features their "best" celebrity prank ever.
The TV duo's popular entertainment show features a segment called Undercover - in which they play a trick on an unsuspecting star - and they think they've outdone themselves on an upcoming episode.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper's We Love TV magazine, Ant McPartlin said: "We have an absolutely brilliant one.
"We can't name the celebrity yet, but we think it's the best we've ever had.
"He's a big name and the brilliant thing about it was his reaction afterwards."
While they couldn't name the mystery guest just yet, they did reveal Holly Willoughby was another victim of a friendly jibe - although Declan Donnelly admitted their friendship with the 'This Morning' host meant it was "quite hard" to prank her.
He explained: "Holly was a good one, but it was also quite hard because we're friends with her!"
'Saturday Night Takeaway' will be touring the nation after the upcoming series, and the pair are looking forward to translating it into a stage show.
Ant added: "It's nice because we can take our time about the shows, as we're not tied to timings like we are on the TV show ... We'll have different celebrities along and no two shows will be the same. It's going to be crazy, but fun!"

Paris Hilton's boyfriend makes artworks for her.
The hotel heiress is dating model River Viiperi and says he often brings out his creative side in order to impress her by making her gifts.
She said: "He [recently] made me a really beautiful piece of art, and he wrote me a beautiful letter. He does sweet things all the time."
The 33-year-old heiress is 11 years older than her boyfriend, but says it doesn't affect them in any way.
She added: "It's not an issue at all, we both look and feel the same age, so it's perfect."
Paris - who is also a DJ and singer - says she's too busy to think about marriage and babies at present, but is hoping to settle down "one day".
The socialite also explained her top confidence tip is to wear an outfit she loves.
She told America's OK! magazine: "Wear whatever you feel happiest in. That's when I feel confident, when I'm wearing something I love."

Kylie Minogue says her bum has gone "south".
The 'Can't Get You Out of My Head' singer has insisted her famous backside might have had its best days, insisting what she sees in the mirror is "a less polished version" of what her fans see.
She told The Sun newspaper: "In your 40s things tend to go south. I don't think I can live up to expectations.
"I see myself in the mirror every morning and it's not the same as what everyone else sees. It's a less polished version."
The 45-year-old star insisted while she knows she is in decent shape, she still needs more exercise.
She explained: "I keep saying I've got to get fit. I'm like a broken record.
"However, I keep in shape as I'm careful what I eat. I don't drink lots or party much."
Despite her comments on her butt, Kylie spoke earlier this year and insisted it was "doing very nicely", and is so famous it's almost "entirely separate" from her.
She recently said: "The bottom is doing very nicely, thank you - it's holding up well.
"I think of it as something entirely separate from me. The bottom is its own entity.
"It even has its own Twitter profile. I should write letters to it!"

One Direction have no plans to split up, and are writing new music.
The 'Story of My Life' hitmakers - who released their latest album 'Midnight Memories' late last year - have already started work on their fourth record and Liam Payne has insisted they won't be breaking up for a very long time.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: "We have been writing away for the next album and rehearsals are just about to start soon for the tour. We're not splitting up.
"We're on WhatsApp messaging each other all the time, talking about song ideas and just funny stuff from our day.
"It's been a while since we have all been together so we are enjoying being back in each other's company."
His band mate Harry Styles also claimed the group - completed by Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan - don't intend to call it quits, even if their career keeps them away from home for a long time.
He added: "We're not breaking up. We've spent every day together for months and forgot what my mum looked like. It's just holidays."

Tinie Tempah wants to move to Australia and change his name to Gilbert.
The rapper doesn't enjoy being hassled in public, and thinks a change of surroundings, along with a new moniker, could help him become somewhat anonymous instead of being so famous in the UK.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "Australia is my getaway place. One day I think I'll start my life again over there and call myself Gilbert or something.
"The problem here is I get treated differently now because I am famous. Saying that, I do walk into Tesco sometimes!"
The 'Pass Out' hitmaker insisted it's difficult going out in public, claiming he can't even head to the cinema without people "acting strange" if they spot him.
He said: "I am not able to move about in London. I don't want anyone taking pictures of me eating.
"Sometimes you call your mates up and say, 'Let's go to the cinema', but then the minute you go everyone's acting strange.
"When you get back to your reality you think, 'F**k - maybe we shouldn't have done it like this.' "

Jared Leto may gain 50lbs for his next role.
The actor and singer lost 30lbs to play the party of transsexual prostitute Rayon in 'Dallas Buyer's Club', but says his next move could be in the complete opposite direction.
He told People magazine: "Maybe I'll play a bodybuilder and gian 50lbs of muscle."
The star and his brother Shannon - who is his bandmate in 30 Seconds to Mars - put their success down to determination and also thank their mother, Constance, for always encouraging them.
Shannon said of their youth: "We were really poor, but had paint, canvases and bongos instead of G.I. Joes (action figures)."
Jared added: "Creativity was a salvation. We had a hippie mom who encouraged us to pursue our dreams."
The 42-year-old actor is up for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Dallas Buyer's Club' at the Oscars on March 2, and says is walking on air to have the nomination.
He added: "I wish I could stay nominated forever. Then no-one has to lose and we all get to celebrate."

Snoop Dogg wants old enemies to respect him as a musician.
The 42-year-old star - who is due to appear in Los Angeles as an accessory for murder next month - insists he is focusing on his career and wants those around him to recognise him for his talent, and not dwell on his past.
Quizzed on whether people from his past want to settle scores, he told the NME: "A lot of them dwell on that s**t. But a lot of them just say 'F**k it, he's doing music now, he's rocking the world. So we gonna respect him as a musician first.' And if gang members can do it, the media should be able to do it. And the white Americans should be to do it too."
Snoop insists his music is an "art" and isn't made to "preach", unlike literature and books.
He added: "Some songs are just made to party to. Some songs are just made to sit down and listen and see what the f**k I'm saying. But not every song is made that way, because I'm not a political person at all. I wouldn't make no record for mo'f***ers to study. But music is an art, it's made to enhance mo'f***ers with. It ain't made to preach - that's literature, books and s**t like that."

Ellen DeGeneres believes animals are "the closest things to God".
The talk show host - who is married to Portia de Rossi - was planning to become a veterinarian before embarking on her TV career, and says animals provided her with some important lessons when growing up.
She said: "The compassion I have for animals comes from my earliest memories. The first bird I saved was a mockingbird when I was around seven years. It had fallen out of its nest and I took it home and it grew up to be a full, grown-up mockingbird. I took it back to that same tree and released it."
In 1997, Ellen's hit sit-com 'Ellen' was cancelled and she admits she was left feeling "low" - until she had another encounter with a mockingbird and it helped give her the strength to carry on.
She recalled to People magazine: "When I was at a low after the show was cancelled, there was a hummingbird in a fountain that was almost dead. I just put my hand in to take it out, and saw it was alive. So I held it to the sun, and it started drying its wings. Then it flew straight up. It was like a metaphor. It had been one of those days for me. Just when you think you should give up, there's a hand that comes and gets you and goes, 'Nope, you're going to be O.K."