Lesbian actress Ellen Page was terrified interviewing a man who murders gay people for her documentary series.
The Inception star fronts the travel series Gaycation on the Viceland cable network in which she investigates gay culture, discrimination and violence around the world, and for one episode based in Brazil, she met a self-confessed serial killer who preys on homosexuals.
The former police officer, known as El Grande, told Ellen he would kill those he assumed were gay while on patrols in Rio de Janeiro, and that his killing spree began when he discovered his son was homosexual.
Ellen, who came out as gay in 2014, admits the encounter was scary, saying, "I think we'd be lying if we said we didn't feel frightened. It's about capturing that person -- you're not quite putting a face to it 'cause he's wearing a mask -- really saying, 'hey, this exists'. You're not thinking about yourself. You're thinking about the vulnerable people who are walking the streets of Rio and might not know this man is walking right by them or he might just run them over in his car."
She wasn't sure if she should tell the man she was also gay, but after she did, he replied, "You know, each to their own. I live my life and they live theirs. Now, if they cross my path, it's a different story."
Page was motivated to create projects about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community because she never related with fictional characters.
Ellen has been dating artist Samantha Thomas since last year.
WENN.com
