What I remember is receiving that script and reading those scenes and crying and thinking, This is exactly right on for Taylor, for Taylors father. You could have an animated cartoon and you couldnt have two men kissing, but you could have a rabbit kiss a man, and that wouldnt be considered this alarming thing that immediately needed to be cut or censored. How did the costuming go?The designer and the producers had a vision and they asked me if I was comfortable. There is no question about it; everybody else around adjusts. Gender nonconformity has traditionally been a means of exploring horror narratives. It allows me to gain perspective, to be more accepting of others, because I know what it feels like to know you're not like everyone else. ", "There's a bit of cynicism that I, too, have had about doing affirmations, but it's really a wonderful thing. 47 Asia kate dillon Images, Stock Photos & Vectors - Shutterstock And thats what the term non-binary is about: Its more like a sphere that you can walk into, and it exists fluidly. I've dealt with this feeling my entire life, and I know that I'm a woman deep down. I went in, met with Chad [the John Wick director Chad Stahelski]. (Laughs.) I remember Danny Strongs character, Todd Krakow, making some snide remarks while he lost to you at the poker tournament. The statistics are staggering. Oh, gosh, fun. Asia finished the Meisner training program at The Actors Workshop of Ithaca and was the youngest student to enroll at the age of 16 while they were still in high school. Its not that we werent having conversations about gender. And I would argue that live-action non-binary and trans characters have also done this. Christianity, Catholicism, those are highly represented, usually by white characters. And this is laced in very conscious, purposeful ways throughout the entire series. We need to see roles written for them that are Emmy-, Tony- and Oscar-worthy. And so theres a character who comes out to Riker and says that they are actually a she, but then spoiler alert for a 30-year-old episode! The surgery didn't solve all of my issues, but it did offer a sense of peace and comfort that wasn't otherwise there. And by doing that Im inherently uplifting and supporting myself. You have played female characters in the past, such as Brandy on Orange is the New Black, and any concerns about whether or not that runs the risk of reinforcing a gender binary? If you see a non-binary character where the representation is just about their identity and/or they die in some horrific manner and/or they only have one episode, that is evidence to me that there was no non-binary person involved in that project except the actor who was cast. Sun: It unfortunately is. Especially just being exposed to online discourse, anybody whos online for a certain period of time starts to have a detector for that type of thing. We are bodies, minds, consciousness; its all much more nuanced and complex and beautiful than we have been taught. Its definitely happening and happening more and more often, and I think thats a really big win. But the very first person that Taylor had an impact on was actually yourself, which I think is kind of beautiful. I think a lot of the womens movement is perpetuating the synonymous use of woman and vagina, and not all women have vaginas, not all people with vaginas are women. So Ive learned to bring food, especially when I know its going to be a long day. Youre right, its sort of this radical premise that was probably problematically intended, because this is the whole thing about comedy: Who is the butt of the joke and whats the intention and what were you trying to do? One show that I got hooked on during the pandemic was Good Trouble, which is a follow-up to Freeforms The Fosters. And it was incredibly freeing and ultimately, I felt like there was nothing to hide behind. Dillon: I have certainly said that very phrase, that whatever hope Taylor gave to other people once Taylor appeared onscreen, Taylor gave me that hope and sense of self first. The net worth of Asia Kate Dillon is estimated to be around $4 million while the figure on their annual income/salary is under review. Your casual summer style inspiration is here. And the categories existing within the context of the awards show are exclusionary and it is erasure of anyone who exists outside of the gender binary. It gives us a glimpse into why were drawn to people in power who arehahawho they are. Dillon: I was told my whole life that my body meant that I was a girl and a woman, so I really couldnt conceive of how to separate my experience of myself versus what I was told I was supposed to be because of what my body looked like. Although as an actor, Im never judging the character that Im playing, because thats not helpful. Billions happened to come out after I had just finished filming season 4 of Orange and I just missed the moment. Im remembering one of the earliest interviews you gave, I think it was on the Ellen show where you delineated the difference between the physiology of our bodies and I think what you called gender identity being what is between the ears. Something that is more about I dont want to put words in your mouth but I think more about a consciousness, it seems, rather than a biological expression? Asia Kate Dillon - Partner, Ethnicity, Parents, Siblings, Net Worth A woman can have a beard and be a woman, but someone can have a beard and also be non-binary. People are going to listen to me more often, receive my message more often than they would from a gender nonconforming person of color. And after having gone on this whole journey with his sister, he makes the conscious choice with his partner to not gender their baby. In As You Like It, I played the 90-year-old man. But what the 33-year-old gets asked about perhaps most frequently is gender identity: Dillons is nonbinary, with the preferred pronoun of they.. Non-binary people have always existed. Why is it important to you to identify as nonbinary rather than to just expand the definition of what woman can mean? Getting to wear drag is super fun. And I love that I am queer. What does that look like? Like you just said, the Gotham Awards just announced that theyre abolishing it, the MTV Movie and TV Awards, you were the very first person in 2017 to present a gender-neutral acting category, and I believe that both the Berlin and San Sebastian film festivals have gender-neutral categories. Asia made their television show debut as the bald girl on the comedy-drama series Younger in 2015. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures are added every day. Sun: Which is already lopsided to begin with. And so the first time that I saw my identity reflected was when Taylor came my way. What is my frame of reference? And the pussy hats not all pussies are pink, but that association is totally exclusive, and not just of nonbinary people, but of trans women and people of color. The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003-2023) Jane Fonda ( Grace and Frankie (2015)); Asia Kate Dillon ( Billions (2016)); guest DJ Stephen Boss. There was an episode of The Next Generation where the Enterprise visits a planet where the gender binary is prohibited. Whats interesting following that and the gates that have opened for trans actors is that trans actors were still kind of operating in that binary of what Hollywood thought a man and a woman really was. Gender nonconformity has traditionally been a means of exploring horror narratives, they explain. White: Okay. And how would we talk about Pats gender and Pats partners differently versus when we did it then? It feels like it's prone to getting sensationalized. And I say, Well, Taylor wouldnt say policemen, they would say cop' or some gender neutral version of whatever the word is. The whole idea behind Steven Universe is an upending of gender expectation. And so the future, to me, is inclusive, and its intersectional, certainly. Is it hard and challenging to play a character like that? So one, theres a shortage of roles and thats something that cant be ignored in the conversation about who gets to play who. Ellen Meets Trailblazing Actor Asia Kate Dillon - YouTube And my heart and mind have been opened. I know that sounds like its made up, it sounds too good to be true, but I have the screenshots. And its a great moment for the show to say, O.K., heres a character in a dress with long hair and makeup. This is generally a setup to be like, is there something problematic you want to call out, but we dont have to put it that way. Demi Lovato I think was the most recent really big announcement. 25 Transgender Celebrities Who Broke Barriers | Stacker That is certainly a change in the last couple of years and the more of that the better. Nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and trans people have always been around, just as long as any other type of person. Please subscribe to Hollywood Remixed on the podcast platform of your choice so that you dont miss it. One of the reasons why those of us who work in this whole inclusion entertainment space, why we care about this, is because there is a validation and an acknowledgement that such a thing exists and deserves to be talked about or heard when its represented in entertainment and media. I got to speak to NPR about it, and Ill just repeat something that I said there, which is like, Okay, so then if Denzel Washington can enter as an actress and Viola Davis can enter as an actor, then the Emmys themselves have shown the categories to be absurd and archaic and ultimately meaningless. Instagram is a weird space. Thats not a part that Im going to play. Neil Gaiman basically said, My angels and demons? You know. Giving other people time is important. And you will frankly eliminate the likelihood that you have a non-binary character that Im going to go, God, you really need to do that over because that was bad.. It was created by colonists and imposed on the indigenous peoples of the so-called United States of America. Its really quite extraordinary. Sun: Thats helpful. This is why, when we were talking about the history of pioneering representations of inclusion, a lot of times it starts with sci-fi or it has started with genre. White: Because I think that gender is a little more fluid for a lot of people, you can be a trans person whos also non-binary or a non-binary person who is trans, but being trans does not inherently make you non-binary, and being non-binary does not inherently make you trans. White: Exactly my point. Why they say getting the diagnosis later in life was a 'relief. And, you know, again, as with all of the relationships on the show, the dynamic between the two characters was very complicated, very nuanced. Is there a work that you would recommend? But if you miss breakfast, its just snack food. Asia Kate Dillon & Dan Soder Immediately Hit it Off on 'Billions' And I said, We have a real opportunity here, Im a nonbinary actor, theres no reason that this character has to be a non-trans person, lets make them nonbinary. All pronouns were taken out of the script to add a little more mystery. And that is a character of color in a show featuring indigenous people in a way that indigenous people havent really been represented before. Like, how can I be this thing if people cant see it, if Im not showing it in some way via a physical, medical change? So I wanted to start by asking you, where are you currently at in terms of how you decide to spend your time or energy educating people? The very first time I buzzed my head I was 21 Id had short hair since I was 14 I just remember it was like 2 in the morning and I just was like, I really want to do it, I want to see what I look like and what my head shape is. They changed it, because why not? They spend a lot of times being the butts of jokes. Dillon: I will play whatever part I am the right actor for. Sun: I think it was incredibly thoughtful. How much educating around gender identity do you have to do? You get to see them as a full human being. Having a deep voice but also being pink, being feminine and masculine at the same time, having a body shape that sort of defies what women or men are supposed to look like was really, really appealing to me. (Laughs.). Were you comfortable with that? I dont want to give an excuse and say trial and error, but you do see a lot of errors on the interminable road of progress. ", "[W]hen my friends and family call me Josie, it feels like I'm being seen. And so it enters this really interesting space where I kind of consider it like American Girl Doll-ing, where youre picking pieces and parts and putting that character together instead of just saying, white male, 30 to 50s, father, something that anybody can slide into. That doesnt mean you should assume that persons gender identity. I can release she/her pronouns, I can use they/them. I love full makeup. I never want to get too optimistic on this show, but things look like they suck a little less than they used to. Its really nice to talk to you. Im thinking of John Malkovichs character, who misgenders Taylor and its like, well, that makes sense in that context. And so and this is a statistic that Laverne Cox said in an interview a little while ago I think 85 percent of Americans say theyve only encountered a trans, non-binary, gender nonconforming person through the media. And so Im wondering if you wouldnt mind I know youve told this story before talking a little bit about what was your framework for understanding yourself prior, and then also, how do you currently identify? I remember feeling crushed. The discrimination towards trans people is rife, insidious and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences. March 31 is Trans Day of Visibility. I almost feel like as a cisgender person in other words, somebody who identifies as the gender they were assigned at birth, if Im defining that correctly it has been in some ways easier for me to understand a transgender person who still exists along the gender binary. Billions or Orange Is the New Black?They are literally so different. Its a jean jacket. White: I mean, I wouldnt say it looks like cisgender racial representation at all. GQ Style: Please explain to me what you have brought in your jar. Sweater by Maison Kitsun / Pants by Issey Miyake / Shoes by Dr. Martens / Beanie by Noah / Sunglasses by Mykita. When did you start to get recognized as an actor?I started to get recognized when my season of Orange came out. But I noticed when I was watching your various past interviews, that youve been very gracious and very patient in answering questions about what it means to be non-binary, even when I imagine sometimes the questions might grow repetitive or kind of basic. Everybody else around Pat was obsessed with Pats gender, which if you talk to trans people, non-binary people, thats kind of what the world is like now. We know that there is a reality in which trans, non-binary, intersex, gender nonconforming people are the targets of hate, bigotry, violence, discrimination, whether its job discrimination, housing discrimination, they have higher rates of bullying and suicide than any other marginalized group. I think about the concept of angels and demons. Theres another genre in which this sort of gender play is more frequently seen than other genres, and thats science fiction/fantasy. Dillon is competing for an Emmy as Supporting Actor. (Laughs.). And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive. The thing about being non-binary is, you can be hairy and wear lipstick, and that is non-binary. Dillon is non-binary and uses singular they pronouns. And then I dont know exactly when it happened, but I think probably last year, I cant pinpoint it exactly, I really came to an understanding that the choice between actor and actress in the context of award shows where those words only mean man/woman, male/female gender or assigned sex, asking non-binary or intersex or gender nonconforming people to choose between those categories is a false choice. Their role on Billions is the first gender non-binary character shown on American television. The fact that they're the most sensational things for you, as a non-trans person, as a cis person, I think says a lot about how we've framed trans people as these objects of dissection, of modern-day freak shows in a way. This applies also to disability representation and also religious representation. Featured Image byAsia Kate Dillon / Instagram. We had Dillon in Issey Miyake in the middle of a busy street; Dillon in Maison Kitsun hanging off a rickety fire-escape. The John Wick movies have always been very representative of all different kinds of people, whether its ethnicity or sexual orientation, and so it just felt really right for the world to have gender diversity as well. The nonbinary actor, who plays nonbinary characters in Billions and the new John Wick film, wants to expand the conversation around gender identity, onscreen and off. People try with good intentions, maybe not, but they try it. Asia, thank you for letting me indulge my inner fan for so long. Taylor is able to feel the most free when there are very clear boundaries. Im really grateful for that, Dillon tells Yahoo Lifestyle at New York Citys Build Studio (part of Yahoos parent company, Oath), where they had dropped by for a live studio interview. Cardigan by Maison Kitsun / Shirt and pants by Agns B / Beanie by American Apparel. These are things that are normally given to girls when we do superhero or fight fantasy stories. Sun: How intentional I mean, its probably safe to assume that Looney Tunes, Chuck Jones and those creators werent necessarily conscious or fully cognizant of that but these latter-day animators, this current generation you mentioned Adventure Time. ", "I think from my teenage years, when I decided I needed to express my femininity, I was happy with the way I looked. Asia Kate Dillon - IMDb A voice faintly hollers in the background: Hollywood Remixed!. Showing Editorial results for asia kate dillon. They have accumulated good wealth from their acting career. White: Star Trek has always been about exploration and asking questions about identity and community and where we belong and how we belong. (Laughs.) But Pat was just minding their business and doing their own thing and was comfortable with who they were and their partners. So thank you so much. Not to hark on animation, but you mentioned adult animation. I can enter the actor category because the word actor is non-gendered and that works for me. Its basically about a boy and his talking dog who go into this Land of Ooo. Asia Kate Dillon Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images And you cant really ascribe their race to them. And if we are trying to award art that is representational of everyone, then we need to be representing everyone, and abolishing gendered awards is one part of the change that needs to happen. I can't say I haven't looked in the mirror and said, ''Work, bitch.'. I love Taylor. I think there are a lot of valid criticisms of that character and what it laid the groundwork for and how it embodied a lot of harmful treatment of gender and non-binary identities in Hollywood. 2.1 0. And I think our media is really representative of how that conversation has changed. Its also about how a cisgender character responds to the partner. And it doesnt dictate what my gender identity is. There is a whole storyline about two aliens; theyre non-binary aliens. It's a basic human right.". Is that how you are?Yeah, I would say so, yeah. But at the same time, you look at all of the images that are available in fashion and in the greater image industry, and you don't see yourself. It didnt come out of a social justice place to create a token character, or to be the first show with a non-binary character. Thats a message of self-care, is what youre saying: Dont expose yourself to problematic portrayals. I loved the idea of playing another version of what nonbinary looks like, which is high femme, very decorative. But food tastes better out of a jar. I would like [people] to understand that we are people. Most casting breakdowns specify male and female roles. And so to me, actor historically is a non-gendered word and thats the word Ive always used, but I needed to pose the question to the Emmy board, what actor and actress meant to them. 'Billions' Star Asia Kate Dillon Joins 'Hollywood Remixed' Podcast I think about Billions, I think about Vida. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Which tells you just how little there is. Check it out. ', 3 dream interpretation tips, from a psychotherapist, Mental health of LGBTQ youth worsening in current 'hostile political climate', Self-care tips for irritable bowel syndrome. I had identified as gender fluid, gender queer, but hadnt come to a place where I felt like I could release she/her pronouns, because I didnt want to physically transition. "Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot. And while their portrayals may or may not have always been respectful, intentional, progressive, I think that this idea that we do not always live within two spaces on a gender line has been persistent. But the thing about non-binary identity is that you know that youre neither of those. I also understand the need for dialogue on it. Taylors everything is very well manicured and particular. Particularly as someone who might not necessarily align with who their child is. And its whats at the base levelideologies of racism and patriarchy, etc.thats the conversation I want to be having. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. A lot of eating disorder stuff, self-confidence issues. Their role on Billions is the first gender non-binary character shown on American television. And then what representation would I change? I have gender fluid friends who say that theyre gender fluid, but also because some people arent really familiar with that very specific term, theyll just choose non-binary. Some friends are like, Nope, its not the same. But its always safest to use it as an umbrella term, and then very specifically ask somebody, What is your gender? But because the character I play is a neo-Nazi and white supremacist, people did not approach me on the street or say, Hey, oh my God, I like your character. [laughs] Occasionally I could tell people would recognize me and not say anything. It was very overdue. I dont know other than how do I know? But I remember my first introduction to Adventure Time was actually watching a clip of Lumpy Space Princess, who is this deep-voiced, giant, pink, blobby, fluffy creature who has a lot of attitude and just doesnt really take anybodys crap. Non-Binary Actor Asia Kate Dillon Opens Up About Their Style And I was thinking that Taylor can be held up in many ways as a universal example of that positive representation not just for non-binary identity, but for so many of the characters on Billions, I feel like the writers have done a great job of making them authentically and organically the identity that they have, whether its racial or gender or different ways, but its never the focus of what their storyline or what their character is all about. But tell me a little bit about animations role or presence when it comes to gender presentation and things like that. Obviously sci-fi is the place where you can explore, but when its the only place that you explore gender outside of cisgender identity, you literally dehumanize it.. Stillness is really important in terms of Taylor. If I was lying on my deathbed and I had kept this secret and never ever did anything about it, I would be lying there saying, 'You just blew your entire life,' 'You never dealt with yourself,' and I don't want that to happen. Check out the latest pictures, photos and images of Asia Kate Dillon. The pioneering actor tells Aaron Hicklin how they are harnessing empathy as a tool for change Sun 25 Mar 2018 04.00 . I was surprised by how seamlessly a show about intense finance guys was able to work in a character whosnot that.The amazing thing that happens with the introduction of Taylor is that all of these men who have felt that they needed to be hyper-masculine are now confrontedfor the first timewith someone who is not hyper-masculine and is more successful and better at the job than they are. Even if nothing in the script or the filming changes, whats the significance of a move like that? Asia Kate Dillon wandered into a coffee shop near Brooklyn's Prospect Park looking like a fallen angel taking a personal day: Black shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, black liner circling. I think it really could go a long way towards dismantling a lot of the toxic masculinity as well as some of the limits that women have. Business Insider spoke to Asia Kate Dillon, who plays fan-favorite Taylor Mason, about gender identity, fan reactions, and the star's artistic ambitions including a music EP. Dillon, 34, identifies as nonbinary, too, with the same preferred pronouns, a gender identity the Billions role helped them clarify. How challenging was it for you to play Brandy, the pretty scary white supremacist skinhead character on Orange Is the New Black? I would say that elements of Bugs Bunnys representation have gender nonconformity, and that can apply to anybody, not just non-binary people. So when I encountered the character breakdown for Taylor, and it did say female non-binary, and of course Ive encountered the word female all my life, and I had encountered the word non-binary before, but in that moment I chose to look both of them up and encountered for the first time the clear explanation of non-binary as someone who identifies as neither a man or a woman, neither male or female, and then also female and male are an assigned sex at birth. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. They're the least interesting things about me. Maybe the food is trying to keep within the vibe of the world. I would like to be, though. Thats awesome. And its been awesome to see that so far, peripherally, they are integral characters to the storyline, the story isnt about their gender identity necessarily. Asia Kate Dillon On Season 5 Of 'Billions': 'Taylor Mason & Wendy And the more we talk about it, the more we can promote the understanding. Dillon, who gave eye-catching performances as Lucifer off-off-Broadway and as a white supremacist on Orange Is the New Black, broke out as Taylor Mason, a nonbinary hedge fund wunderkind on the Showtime series Billions., Hello, Im Taylor, the character says when first meeting the funds boss, Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). I think these are conversations that mixed-race families have too. They use multiple pronouns, they are referred to as boy and girl and all kinds of things. So there are going to be narratives that at the time were incredibly progressive that now were just like, Yikes, lets not do that again.. "I hit a rock in my journey in 2017 when I thought I wasn't transgender because I thought that people were pushing me to be transgender. If youre new to the show, here at Hollywood Remixed each episode is dedicated to a single theme a type of character, storyline or identity that has traditionally been underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream culture. I obviously would not say to the same degree that white characters are. I dont know if that answers your question. Twenty years from now, will acting be more gender fluid? In one of their interviews, they revealed that they were currently dating a man, however, chose to not divulge any further details such as his name or the duration of their relationship. I feel like a lot of art these days is just entertainment for entertainments sake. Its an umbrella term, and it describes anybody who may have a gender that doesnt really exclusively fall into male or female cisgender very specifically and who may identify somewhere in between that or beyond that. I am actually glad that people try. The actor has an estimated net worth of $1,276,947. They had more lines. So now going beyond Billions and talking a little bit more about your whole career as well as the industry, in your experience and to your knowledge, how much opportunity is out there for non-binary or gender fluid or genderqueer actors to be able to also play non-binary characters? 572 Asia Kate Dillon Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 572 asia kate dillon photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. There are certainly situations where Im not correcting people. I have always felt non-binary, always, before I had the language to conceive or communicate what that was to other people.
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