Page 101 - Sharp Winter 2025

REGÉ-JEAN PAGE IS ENTERING A NEW CHAPTER, ONE
steeped in espionage and covert operations as layered as the star himself. It’s not the role you might assume. For years, Page has expertly navigated rumours alluding to him as the next James Bond, with everyone clamouring for a definitive “yes” or “no.” By now, Page is used to fans projecting his next role; browse his name on social media every few months and you’ll see his loyal following “fan-casting” him into an array of hypothetical projects. But for now, Page’s martini order isn’t under strict contractual constraints of “shaken-not-stirred.” Instead, the British actor joins Steven Soderbergh’s American spy thriller Black Bag alongside Michael Fassbender, Pierce Brosnan, and Cate Blanchet, once again keeping everyone (even himself) guessing as to what’s next in store for him.
The project, directed by Soderbergh and written by David Koepp, has been kept as under wraps as the affairs depicted within. At the time of our interview, even Page hasn’t been privy to a full preview of the film. But with Soderbergh at the helm and co-stars that include Blanchett, Brosnan, and Fassbender, Page says having the freedom to join these sets is what defines a successful career.
“I think we haven’t had an old-school cinematic movie like this in a while,” he says. “It’s a tense psychological spy thriller made by a master filmmaker with a true ensemble cast. But it also just so happens to include two of our greatest living actors today, between Michael [Fassbender] and Cate [Blanchett]. It’s high-level filmmaking that feels very, very special to shoot in the moment.”
As someone who’s amassed an enormous global following, it’s hard to believe that Page is still self-admittedly early in his acting career. Like Fassbender and Blanchet once did, he’s dutifully checked the boxes as an emerging young actor: small television miniseries, indie short films, an eclectic list of auditions, and an
education at the esteemed Drama Centre London. But after being thrust into the global spotlight of Netflix’s regency-era sensation, Bridgerton, and graduating from the show, there has been palpable anticipation as to what Page would take on next.
Doors have opened, proverbial red carpets rolled out, and those pesky Bond rumours keep swirling. But from Page’s perspective, now marks a time of exploration and growth as an actor — a period meant for further educating himself, searching for new modes of representation, and not resting on the laurels of stardom.
“I’m still early in my career,” he says. “The best thing about this job is that you can do it pretty much until the day you die, and you’ll always be learning. [...] I want to surround myself with the best people and take notes about how they steer a set. [...] I want to go to different places. I don’t want to hang out in the same energy or the same place, physical or psychological, for too long. [...] I like keeping it fresh [...] and then taking the audience I have with me.”
By now, Page’s audience has reached a fever pitch, carrying over from project to project, creating a fanbase as diverse as the actor’s filmography. After leaving his leading role as the brooding Duke Simon Basset, Page pivoted to take on the role of corrupted CIA official, Denny Carmichael, in The Gray Man (2022). Alongside Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling, Page once again saw his fanbase grow to a degree few could’ve anticipated. Netflix reported that the film was streamed for a total of 88.55 million hours over its first three days, making it the most-watched film in 84 countries. Those who might have come to see the version of Page they’d grown accustomed to were undoubtedly surprised, but certainly not disappointed.
In selecting each new role, Page finds as much joy as the audience themselves. As he discusses how his career has evolved,
SHARPMAGAZINE.COM
WINTER 2025 101
FEATURE
“The best thing about this job is, if you do it right, it’s almost never about you.”