Appearing on The Ellen Show, Ellen Page beamed when talking about her girlfriend Samantha Thomas.

Page appeared on the show to promote her latest film, Freeheld.

In Freeheld, Page plays Stacie Andree, whose domestic partner Lieutenant Laurel Hester (played by Julianne Moore) is fighting for the right to leave her Ocean County, New Jersey police pension to Andree as she faces a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer. Page had been attached to the film for a number of years and came out during its production.

“It was very, very special to have come out, to be playing a gay person, someone who I admire so such and did something so crucial and important in a time of unimaginable difficulty,” Page said. “I just feel so grateful to be a part in telling her story.”

When DeGeneres mentioned Thomas, who was in the audience, Page offered a wide smile. Later, she told DeGeneres that Thomas was teaching her to surf, and DeGeneres presented Page with a surfboard personalized with “To Ellen, From Ellen.”