THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY's Ellen Page Discusses The Difficult Violin Lessons That Prepared Her For The Role

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY's Ellen Page Discusses The Difficult Violin Lessons That Prepared Her For The Role

Ellen Page is no stranger to comic book movies, having starred in Super and X-Men before taking the role of Umbrella Academy's White Violin. Here, the actress dishes on her preparation for the character.

By LiteraryJoe - Feb 21, 2019 12:02 AM EST
Filed Under: The Umbrella Academy
Source: USA Today
While many fans might believe that the training required for a role in a comic book movie or show consists of rigorous gym exercises and strict diets, sometimes there's more to it than that. Just ask Ellen Page, who plays Vanya/The White Violin in Netflix and Dark Horse's new television adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's acclaimed comic run, The Umbrella Academy.

Vanya is one of seven foster children adopted as infants, all of whom were born of a freak accident, although she is the only one of the crew that is ordinary - that is to say, she has no powers and is therefore not a part of the vigilante team of siblings known as The Umbrella Academy.

Though Page was unable to play the violin, she focused on working hard to make it look as though her character does. She worked extensively to learn enough so that she was comfortable with the instrument, and could turn in a great performance. Here is what she had to say about that difficult learning process.

"I did my absolute best and had a wonderful, patient teacher. She's a 16-year-old prodigy named Imogen. It was a gift to listen to her play. I definitely know the stuff that doesn't look as good. It is so hard. So hard. Really, the goal was to just try and make me look as comfortable as humanly possible."

The actress also commented on how she feels about the character she is playing as compared to her other super or non-super roles.

"For me on a personal level, I have to say this is one of my favorite characters I have ever played. Her arc is interesting," Page says. "When you're folding in on yourself and you're numb to the world and you don't know how to relate to it, it's needless to say hard to blossom in any way at all, whether it's personal life, professional life, what have you. Obviously this is Vanya going on an awakening of some sort."

What did you think of Ellen Page's performance as Vanya Hargreeves, AKA The White Violin, and the Netflix series in general?



The Umbrella Academy revolves around a dysfunctional family of adopted sibling superheroes who reunite to solve the mystery of their father's death, and the oncoming threat of the apocalypse.

The Umbrella Academy is available to stream now on Netflix.
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Sleipnir
Sleipnir - 2/21/2019, 1:13 AM
Good show, started off pretty basic and uninteresting but picked up around episode 4 IMO. Really liked it by the end and am excited for the next season (if we get one).
OptimusGrime
OptimusGrime - 2/21/2019, 1:35 AM
Totally agree with the above comments - a really interesting and well thought out show. Loved the dance sequences hahaha they came from nowhere but really landed well and were funny as well. A couple of pacing issues in some minor scenes.. for the inaugural season but im sure we'll get a second season where minor stuff like that will be rectified. But stellar show otherwise. Number 5... that kids a sick actor for his age! Crushed the role.
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 2/21/2019, 3:01 AM
@OptimusGrime - Both Five and Klaus are amazing characters, and those actors who portray them are really great indeed
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 2/21/2019, 2:59 AM
Although I feel like this follows basic archetypes and character developments, I love how they manage they make it pretty interesting. Especially since it’s basically the best from Apocalypse Suite and Dallas in one season, and the new stuff also works pretty well
nikgrid
nikgrid - 2/21/2019, 3:09 AM
Nice choice of thumbnail, could you not have chosen just a picture of Ellen page without the eyes? FFS.
MarioT1000
MarioT1000 - 2/21/2019, 4:23 AM
@nikgrid - No joke, I’m barely starting episode 3 tonight... SPOILER much?
LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 7:20 AM
@nikgrid - Thanks for the heads up. Sorry if it was spoiled for you. The image has been updated, though I can't say for certain when that will reflect on the website.

I appreciate the honest feedback and welcome more in the future!
nikgrid
nikgrid - 2/21/2019, 10:45 PM
@LiteraryJoe - Thanks for understanding LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 11:09 PM
@nikgrid - Big ups on your Trump image too. 👍
Fishandchips
Fishandchips - 2/21/2019, 3:10 AM
I'm pretty much a sucker for anything with Robert Sheehan in, but in all honesty, when I watched the show, it was Five who stuck out the most, the kid was dope. Not that anyone in the cast was bad. Hazel and Cha Cha were standout too, imo. Really look forward to the second season and seeing where they take it. Also, TIL that the comic was created by the front man of My Chemical Romance, who'da thunk?
OptimusGrime
OptimusGrime - 2/21/2019, 6:22 AM
@Fishandchips - Hahah totally agree. Number 5 was killer! But i actually watched an interview with the cast and he seems exactly like that in real life...like way older than his years! And super intense. Heck it worked for the show so...good move netflix. Papering over the marvel show cancellations cracks
Fishandchips
Fishandchips - 2/21/2019, 6:54 AM
@OptimusGrime - guess it wasn't so much acting then haha but yeah, he absolutely smashed it. And don't please, my MCU Netflix wounds are still healing :( haha
OptimusGrime
OptimusGrime - 2/22/2019, 1:15 AM
@Fishandchips Murdock857859 - Holy Shizzballs!!- murdock just changed the game with this suggestion..

Robert Sheehan for Joker
Aidan Gallagher for Damian Wayne

Lets write it guys...we can do this lol!!
Fishandchips
Fishandchips - 2/22/2019, 7:22 AM
@OptimusGrime - Aidan, I assume is Five? Yeah, he seems like he could play a violent sociopath well haha, I dig it.
Murdock857859
Murdock857859 - 2/21/2019, 3:54 AM
Robert Sheehan for Joker
Aidan Gallagher for Damian Wayne
Pedrito
Pedrito - 2/21/2019, 4:14 AM
So learning violin is difficult..
Is that Mike Pence’s fault too?
MarioT1000
MarioT1000 - 2/21/2019, 4:25 AM
Thanks for the SPOILER warning.. I haven’t even started episode 3, but now know she’s not the grounded character I thought she was.. Here I thought this article was about her learning violin..
LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 7:21 AM
@MarioT1000 - Sorry if I spoiled it for you, the image has been updated. I hope you continue to give honest feedback! Thanks!
MarioT1000
MarioT1000 - 2/21/2019, 5:36 PM
@LiteraryJoe - Thanks, I appreciate your addressing it even though you really didn’t have to!
LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 7:45 PM
@MarioT1000 - No problem. I initially thought that the thumbnail would be fine, I didn't think people would really notice the eyes lol.

Bully for me.
MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 2/21/2019, 4:33 AM
On episode 6, loving it. The thumbnail is a huge spoiler though.
SuperManes
SuperManes - 2/21/2019, 4:47 AM
Been really diggin it, getting ready to start episode. 7 and it's really building to a climax. I've been kinda surprised about the lack of coverage for this show on here. Think I've seen more 'next week on MacGyver' articles that Umbrella Academy.
LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 6:38 AM
@SuperManes - I came to fix that!
DillonEnnis
DillonEnnis - 2/21/2019, 5:52 AM
Absolutely cannot get Aidan Gallagher as Damian Wayne out of my head now
NoobNoob
NoobNoob - 2/21/2019, 6:05 AM
Wonder if she learned any Hillsong song on violin
BlackPhillip
BlackPhillip - 2/21/2019, 12:55 PM
@NoobNoob - Lol
Talontd
Talontd - 2/21/2019, 7:15 AM
@LiteraryJoe - That thumbnail is a spoiler fam, not cool...

LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 7:22 AM
@Talontd - Yeah, sorry. I have updated it but I don't know how long that will take to show up.
CAPTAINPINKEYE
CAPTAINPINKEYE - 2/21/2019, 7:31 AM
I liked this show enough to finish it in less than a 7 days. The show started off good, interesting and original. Some cool characters (Number 5 and Number 4).
And the father is from the future??
But halfway through it started to degrade for me when it came to dialogue and Vanya Hargreeves was annoying me.
Don't want to judge the end to harshly because when talking about time travel it just opens up way too many options for a writer. But I didn't like the ending.

LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 7:34 AM
@CAPTAINPINKEYE - Really? Just curious, did you read the comics?
LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 7:35 AM
@CAPTAINPINKEYE - the really was in regards to the ending. I was surprised and I think I like it.
CAPTAINPINKEYE
CAPTAINPINKEYE - 2/21/2019, 7:40 AM
@LiteraryJoe - no. I never read the comic book. I don't even remember seeing it up on the shelves. Was the series directly based on the comic books?
LiteraryJoe
LiteraryJoe - 2/21/2019, 7:53 AM
@CAPTAINPINKEYE - There are a lot of similarities and several differences.

It's been several years since I re-read them but I own two copies of both volumes so I'll likely re-visit.

To my recollection the ending of season one was never something that happened in the comics.
BlackPhillip
BlackPhillip - 2/21/2019, 1:01 PM
Great show. I kind of was hoping that the group would make the difficult decision of killing off Ellen's character. Klaus is definitely my favorite character. I'm a sucker for conjurers/necromancers.
greenmn2000
greenmn2000 - 2/21/2019, 2:12 PM
OK...Really liked the show but I need a little help with something. Spoiler alert ahead - You fine friends who are familiar with the GNs, Why the hell couldn't they give Vanya anything in the "time out" room! Hell - Her violin, a laptop, one of those old fashioned papery things (oh yea, a book!)...anything??!

Oh and ...Hazel is the TRUE hero of the story! 'A simple life with a partner...' great line!
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