Watch: Elliot Page Says he's 'Grateful to be Alive' as a Trans Man

Trans actor Elliot Page ushered in his new memoir with an unboxing video and an intimate interview. He's "grateful to be here and alive," he said – something that's not true for all trans people.

UK newspaper the Independent shared a video that the 36-year-old actor posted on his Instagram account, showing Page unboxing a delivery of copies of his memoir, titled "Page Boy."

"Wow," the star of "The Umbrella Academy" exclaims in the video as he opens the box to reveal multiple copies of the book. Picking one up and opening it, he adds: "Wow, it's real!"

In comments posted with the video, Page said, "I can't wait for everyone to get their copy in a few weeks ❤️ If you haven't yet, preorder yours at ElliotPageBook.com!"

Page allowed People Magazine to publish the book's first chapter in advance of the book's debut. In the same article, he gave a frank interview about what it means to him that he's reached this moment in his life – published, post-transition, and making his voice heard in support of others.

Telling the magazine "I didn't think I could write a book," Page said in the interview, "I do feel like I kind of barely made it in many ways. But today, I'm just me and grateful to be here and alive and taking one step at a time."

Extremist forces driving increasing levels of anti-LGBTQ+ (and especially anti--trans) hostility makes life difficult for transgender people, especially youth, who have seen their most basic rights attacked by state lawmakers across the country. Page addressed this, and indicated that the book is a response.

"I think this period of not just hate, of course, but misinformation or just blatant lies about LGTBQ+ lives, about our healthcare, it felt like the right time" to pen his memoir, he said.

"Trans and queer stories are so often picked apart, or worse, universalized," the newly minted author continued. "So the first chapter of 'Pageboy'... I just sat down, and it came out, and I just didn't stop. I just kept writing."

Addressing the subject of visibility – to which Page has contributed significantly since coming out as transgender and making his transition journey part of his public persona – the "Juno" star added, "I think we need to feel represented and see ourselves. You know, that's not something I had like as a kid."

And prejudice, Page pointed out, has a cost.

"The reality is, trans people disproportionately are unemployed, disproportionately experience homelessness. Trans women of color are being murdered. People are losing their healthcare or couldn't access it."

He's conscious, too, that his own remarkable story is not the sort of journey that's shared by many others.

"My experience as a trans person and this life I have, and the privilege I have does not represent the reality of most trans lives," Page acknowledged.