As Ellen Page’s Juno says at the beginning of the sure-to-be indie darling of this year, it all started with a couch. But as Ellen talks about the movie that is already stealing hearts across the nation and stole hers before she even signed on to play its title character, for her, it all started when she met Juno.

From the moment she picked up the script for Juno, Page says she knew Juno was a part that she wanted to play and her story one that needed to be told.

“It was one of the best screenplays I’ve ever read. And a teenage female lead that I felt like we’d never seen before, a character devoid of stereotype, a screenplay devoid of stereotype,” says Page.

Sixteen, pregnant, and as Juno herself puts it, dealing with things way beyond her maturity level, Juno may still be figuring out what kind of girl she is. But as Page sees it, Juno is also nothing other than “unique and witty and just extremely genuine and honest.”

It’s a kind of “honest whole complex” role that doesn’t often exist for young women, a kind of character she sees in very few films, says Page. But in Juno, that sense of realistic uniqueness is something that Page sees throughout the entire film and in every one of its characters.

Michael Cera’s Paulie Bleeker is not the typical high school jock. Allison Janney’s Bren is not the evil stepmother. Jennifer Garner’s Vanessa Loring is more than just a successful career woman. And J.K. Simmons’ Dad is as caring as he is gruff.

And it is exactly these kinds of characters she gets excited about playing, says Page.

“When someone is honest and whole and well-written, you’re gonna be able to connect to them, no matter what their life, because we’re all made up of the same stuff,” she says. “First and foremost, it’s about connecting at the heart. Because you know, we’re all just trying to get by, to make sense of this crazy thing called life.”

And as Juno tells the stories of each of its distinctive characters, the movie becomes very much about the reality of that ongoing journey we all must travel to make sense of life.

“Juno goes on a really profound experience,” says Page. “And when you go through situations like that, I feel like you really grow, and through that she learns a lot like anyone would.”

“It’s one of those films that’s for everyone,” say Page. “I think it has an extremely universal message, about growing up being true to yourself, and that’s really what matters. And it kind of does have that all-you-need-is-love quality to it; when you break it down, that’s all you really need.”

And that belief in love doesn’t just come from some return to youthful naiveté, says Page. Even though Juno must face certain realities that would make it hard for anyone to believe in love, she also encounters very real truths that allow her to believe.

Page points to a touching scene between Juno and her baby’s soon-to-be adopted mother, Vanessa Loring, as one of those moments of truth. “She sees the love in that woman’s eyes and knows how much this woman is going to cherish this being. And it’s really really beautiful.”

And, says Page, “I think she really does believe that she genuinely loves Paulie Bleeker. They’re best friends. And she adores him and he adores her. And it’s beautiful. Call me a hopeless romantic, but it’s a feeling that I definitely cherish. It’s one of the most, one of the only, feelings that kind of feels real in a way.”

As for what might be next for young Juno, Page jokingly predicts that she and Paulie Bleeker will go on to become famous in their band. “A happily-ever-after situation, I’m sure,” smiles Page.

But really, Page says she hopes that Juno “continues to just be an incredibly honest and genuine person, just keeps on trekkin’, rockin’ and rollin’.”

And as she herself continues on her own journey, Page says she will always remember playing Juno as one of the best filmmaking experiences she’s ever had.

“I am so grateful to be a part of this film,” say Page. “To play this character is an enormous gift, and I just feel extremely lucky.”