Ellen Page feels ''lucky'' to be dating Samantha Thomas.

The 'Freeheld' star, who announced she is a lesbian last year, says her girlfriend is ''special'' and is proud to be in a place to ''love someone openly.''

Asked how it feels to celebrate the release of her new movie, in which she stars as Stacie Andree, who fought for the right to inherit her late partner Laurel Hester's pension benefits, with the artist by her side, the 28-year-old actress said: ''So far, that's not something I've experienced in my life. And to love someone openly, to hold someone's hand walking down the street, it's a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful thing, and I'm just lucky enough to have someone in my life as special as her.''

Meanwhile Ellen's co-star Julianne Moore is very proud of her for being a great role model.

Speaking at the film's New York premiere, she told 'Entertainment Tonight': ''I could talk about Ellen Page forever, I adore her. She's had an amazing year, she's an amazing person. She's an incredible standard bearer, I think, just for the gay community and for her experience, and she really sets an incredible example.''

Ellen is set to receive the prestigious National Vanguard Award from the Human Rights Campaign in Washington D.C. next Saturday (03.10.15) from U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.