While most newly-turned 21-year-olds are wondering what to do with their lives and dreading the slideshow of embarassing baby photographs that will surely come, on her twenty-first birthday Ellen Page will already be able to boast the very cool privilege of being nominated for, count them, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. All for her performance as Juno McGuff, the sharp-witted teen in Juno (2007). 

This isn’t the first time Page has received accolades for her work. As the daughter of a graphic designer and a teacher, she was encouraged to pursue her dream of acting from an early age. By the time she was ten she was cast as the horse-loving Maggie Maclean in the movie Pit Pony (1997). For her exceptional performance, this itty-bitty actress was awarded a nomination for Best Performance at the Gemini (the Canadian version of the Emmys) and a Young Artist Award. This was clearly the beginning of a auspicious career.

Although most of the roles this pint-sized performer has played have been teenagers, she has steered clear of the traditional path, opting for more challenging and off-beat roles. Looking at Page’s already impressive resume of characters, there is not a prom-queen or clichéd high-school drama in sight. Instead she has portrayed a spate of difficult characters: from victim-turned-punisher in Hard Candy (2005), a subject of domestic abuse in An American Crime (2007) to a traumatized teen in The Tracey Fragments (2007).

Controversy may not be Ellen Page’s middle name, but it certainly does seem to suit her well. Her latest movie, Juno, is no different, revealing the pitfalls of being a pregnant teen. This tired and contentious subject matter is re-vamped and set a little off-centre in a style typical to its young Canadian star. But like Page, Juno’s edgy, sassy and off-beat approach is its winning feature. And it certainly does win. With its infectious dialogue and the budding but believable romance that develops as pregnant Juno’s stomach grows this comedy drama is difficult to fault. The plot is a perfect balance of funny-one liners and touching moments with a cast of almost too real to be true characters. 

Across the board Juno has a noticeable lack of the ego and glitz usually associated with a big box-office hit. First time sceenwriter Diablo Cody brings with her the vitality and untarnished energy of a newcomer. And the soundtrack is also packed with genuine charm, with the simple lyrics and unassuming vocals of Kimya Dawson. Director Jason Reitman is also known to swim against the current of the mainstream. His first filmmaking effort came with the critically acclaimed satire Thank You For Smoking (2005), which like Juno, poked fun at narrow-mindedness and traditional thinking.

In all, Juno represents a David and Golliath story, the little film that vanquished the Hollywood giants, against all odds, proving that there is still hope for fresh and unconventional cinema. And that’s what makes it so entertaining; it doesn’t act like a blockbuster, it just is. The film’s popularity is due entirely to its own genuine approach.

And it’s the same story with Page. As a native of Hailifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, she doesn’t hide who she is. Her career is not based on vanity or the pursuit of conventional success.  As Kish Iqbal, Page’s talent agent, said in a 2008 interview with The Toronto Star, "She's amazing. [For her] it's about making great choices and there's so little ego."

Juno carefully treads the line between indie and studio film, comedy and drama. Page, with all her charisma and unconventional beauty and sass, elevates the script from the page and into your heart.