Young 'Juno' star is darling of critics

Although Page is the star of "Juno," one of the season's most-buzzed-about indie films, the tiny 20-year-old actress is still mostly anonymous to the masses.

Critics, however, are paying attention, with every publication from The New York Times (which called her a "phenom waiting to happen") to Entertainment Weekly praising the Nova Scotia native.

"Juno," also starring Jennifer Garner, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney, opens in Tucson Christmas Day.

The film, directed by Jason Reitman ("Thank You For Smoking"), is the story of quick-witted, sharp-tongued Juno MacGuff, who gets knocked up by her best friend (Cera) and then decides to give the baby to a young, affluent couple (Garner, Bateman).

In a movie landscape dominated by the likes of "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Superbad," Page says she was excited at the chance to be in a film with a strong, young woman at its center.

"Juno was a teenage female lead (I'd) never seen before — she's just completely devoid of stereotypes," says Page, now settled in a hotel suite, her Converse-clad feet propped up on a coffee table.

"She's very intelligent and witty, but she's also young and can be kind of arrogant."

As an anti-heroine who eschews fashion but sarcastically acknowledges that the school jocks are nonetheless hot for her "cute librarian look," Page says young Juno upends every possible Molly Ringwald or Amanda Bynes movie-teen archetype.

"There weren't really any films like ('Juno') when I was growing up," Page says. "Boys had their 'Igby Goes Down' — there's been a string of interesting male roles — but girls don't get to have that."

Page takes her feet off the table and leans forward in her seat to set the challenge.

"Let's actually think of other teenage films with young women who are interesting and quote unquote 'different' — there's 'Ghost World' and (the Canadian horror film) 'Ginger Snaps' and …"

Page stops, thinks for a second and then sits back again.

"You see? It's just not happening. We're completely missing that kind of girl (in movies)," she says. "Either that, or the girls are so over-the-top weird and out of control."

And that's the thing with Juno, Page says. Sure, the fast-talking, '70s punk-loving girl is something of an outsider in her small Minnesota town, but she's also very real and complex — very normal.

Just an average girl who grows up a little faster than her dismayed but supportive dad and stepmom (played by Simmons and Janney, respectively) had hoped.

Juno's not the only rich character, Page adds.

"The movie begins with what seems like exaggerated cliché — the outspoken unique kid, the stepmom, the uptight yuppie couple — but then you start to realize that everyone's incredibly whole. It was all just so constantly unexpected."

But, Page is careful to stress, there's one thing that "Juno" isn't — political.

Despite a plot that revolves around an unplanned teenage pregnancy and a key scene involving an abortion clinic, the story isn't liberal, conservative or trying to get a point across about any particular issue.

"It's a story about growing up and holding onto yourself in the process," Page says.

The offbeat film's opened up many opportunities for its young star.

Page, who started acting on Canadian television at age 10, is perhaps best known in the U.S. for playing a revenge-seeking victim in 2005's "Hard Candy" and mutant superhero Kitty Pryde in 2006's "X-Men: The Last Stand."

Now, "Juno's" netted Page a "Best Breakthrough Performance" from the National Board of Review critics association — not to mention a little bit of pre-Oscar buzz.

It's exciting and surreal, says Page, who still calls a Nova Scotia apartment home. More script choices, big movie premieres and the chance to meet some of her biggest idols.

Such as?

"Jodie Foster!" Page says in a dramatic, stage whisper. But, no kidding, she adds, that was the real big deal.

"We did an actress round-table together," Page says. "It was me, Jodie Foster — who I've loved my whole life — Tilda Swinton, Halle Berry and Amy Ryan. It was insane, and the whole time I thought, 'I shouldn't be here!' It was like I was just a kid again."

But not just any kid, because not only has Page earned her place at the table, but she probably won't be able to slip invisibly through the crowds for too much longer.