And we really havent really had much of that. So theres also a famous Star Trek episode that deals with race, where theres a whole race of people and half of them have white on one side of the face and black on the other. Anyway, I have this because you never know if theres going to be food somewhere. But there are a lot of people on that set. For those who arent already familiar with this argument, I almost want to save time and just tell them to Google it. Its definitely happening and happening more and more often, and I think thats a really big win. Your casual summer style inspiration is here. White: And in that you get to explore other peoples relationship to their gender too. The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003-2023) Jane Fonda ( Grace and Frankie (2015)); Asia Kate Dillon ( Billions (2016)); guest DJ Stephen Boss. And one thing that I found really, really interesting about animation is that some folks would sort of skirt these rules, because these rules were very human-based. Asia Kate Dillon on Being Non-Binary Slaven Vlasic/Getty "Non-binary is a term used by some people, myself included, who experience their gender identity as falling somewhere outside the. And I think you can kind of sniff that out. Someone can have a beard and be trans. In this weeks episode of Hollywood Remixed, The Hollywood Reporters podcast about inclusion and representation in entertainment, Billions Asia Kate Dillon joins the show to talk about how non-binary representation changes lives starting with their own. Were all ignorant of what were ignorant of until were not. And it is incredibly unfair and kind of limiting because it means that our stories are limited in and of themselves, but I do think that people of color are increasingly being represented. I think a lot of times the awards nowadays are about acknowledging some superlative performances and craft, but theyre also like a litmus test to see how have we been doing in terms of having enough substantive parts for people who dont fit into that dominant identity. One of my favorites is Summer Camp Island. I would like to be, though. In 2020 alone it has been reported that at least 40 transgender people have been murdered, the majority of which were Black and Latinx trans women. Oct 14, 2020. Neil Gaiman basically said, My angels and demons? I've been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Ellen Meets Trailblazing Actor Asia Kate Dillon - YouTube Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga in 'Macbeth': Theater Review Check it out. You know its interesting that people think that pants are masculine. I think about the characters in Danger & Eggs, which was an Amazon series; Craig of the Creek, which has I think one of the highest numbers of non-binary characters outside of Steven Universe, which just blows everybody away because every gem in that is non-binary. [laughs] As Nina Simone said, its an artists job to reflect society. I would say that elements of Bugs Bunnys representation have gender nonconformity, and that can apply to anybody, not just non-binary people. They titrate their emotions in a very conscious, calculated way. I don't feel like there was a mistake made. 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., Elsewhere in the show, THR associate editor Abbey White discusses the genres where gender exploration has taken place the most: science fiction and, perhaps surprisingly, animation. Taylor Mason (Asia Kate Dillon) has come a long way from first joining Axe Capital as an intern, working for Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). Pink is his associated color, and his weapons and powers are defensive things. I have the receipts. Theres still not enough, so lets keep going. White: Its definitely interesting when you start to think about how aggressively gendered our culture is. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. And its a little remarkable given that the characters are otherwise all kinds of assholes. Dillon is non-binary and uses singular they pronouns. Keanu Reeves had the idea for a character who wasnt going to take up physical arms in this movie, who had a different kind of power, a quiet power. And I think thats part of the key to LGBTQ representation, the storied history of LGBTQ representation and definitely non-binary representation. How much educating around gender identity do you have to do? And I realized that once I tried to start learning more about non-binary, its like, Wow, we are so firmly, fundamentally wedded to this idea of this or that, male or female. Thats why today I really wanted to focus on when you are neither this nor that. And obviously this is not an intentional non-binary representation, but . Whatever hope Taylor gave to other people once Taylor appeared onscreen, Taylor gave me that hope and sense of self first., Dillon also discusses with host Rebecca Sun (THR senior editor of diversity and inclusion) their campaign to remove gendered acting categories from awards shows, a move that the Grammys, Gotham Awards, MTV Movie and TV Awards and Berlin and San Sebastian film festivals have already done. 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? Is Asia Kate Dillon Related To Matt Dillon. You get to see them as a full human being. It said, female, gender nonbinary. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. Do you think its useful in times like this, or does it just serve to make bad people more palatable?Youve kind of hit on what the issue can be. 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. You unleash a fury of vile and demeaning rage that lands on the shoulders of the trans community, a community in which 40% of trans adults report attempting suicide. Dillon, who uses the singular pronoun "they" for identification, spoke . I got a casting breakdown from my agent. Has the German word 'einfhlung' tattooed on the left side of their neck, which translates to 'empathy'. He is a gay man of color, and one of the things that he said really stuck out to me, and that was that queer white people get to be queer, and queer people of color are people of color first, which means that society looks at our race before it looks at our sexuality. March 31 is Trans Day of Visibility. Sun: It was really enjoyable. Matt Dillon ( Full name: Matthew Raymond Dillon) is a 57-year-old American actor and film director who was born on February 18, 1964, in And I remember watching it as a little kid this is so wild when I think about my own gender journey and not really needing to ascribe a gender to Pat. I remember in middle school they were going to do Oliver! I was so excited to audition to play Oliver and then realized I couldnt, because I hadnt been assigned male at birth. What is it like playing a nonbinary character in the hypermasculine world of Billions? Taylor has a lot of storylines, and I love that most of them actually are not centered around their identity, but do you have input? ", "I think from my teenage years, when I decided I needed to express my femininity, I was happy with the way I looked. That can be very powerful and helpful in the de-stigmatization of trans bodies. Because I feel like its also extraordinary to have a character whos never referred to by a pronoun. That doesnt mean you should assume that persons gender identity. Sweater by Maison Kitsun / Pants by Issey Miyake / Shoes by Dr. Martens / Beanie by Noah / Sunglasses by Mykita. Asia Kate Dillon - Biography - IMDb I carry that with me when Im out in the world and Im misgendered. I think that Taylors wardrobe is actually just very human and very neutral. Sun: Absolutely. Not that Im taking that whole responsibility on myself, but that is work Im specifically engaging in. 107. Taylors everything is very well manicured and particular. Trans people have always existed, so these conversations have happened. It mostly feels like a conversation, a dialogue about what pronouns are, what gender identity is, the fact that were all assigned a sex, but that everyone actually has the autonomy to decide how they identify. 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. What else are you up to?My partner and I co-founded a production company together. Not to redirect to the trans conversation, but I think Pose as a show actually did a really incredible thing by centering trans people, making them leads, showing that they could be like Girlfriends, Friends, Sex and the City. 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? And so now, having the opportunity to talk about it and have it printed is extraordinary for me, and it doesnt get tiring., One particularly notable moment of explanation was when Dillon was a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Because I want to keep my priorities in order and stay focused. Theres a tiny little calculator known as BMO who is genderless, because why wouldnt a tiny little calculator be genderless? I thought, if youre nonbinary, can you also be female? That is certainly a change in the last couple of years and the more of that the better. Baby representation on TV has been a really interesting space in animation and live action. So its realistic to think that we might see this someday. I have always experienced myself that way. Read on for our chat about everything from whether Alec Baldwin does a good Trump impression to what kind of person even drinks Red Bull to the backstory on that game-changing role as Taylor. But theres also something freeing about seeing a character who walks around and is comfortable with who they are. I told you, Im pretty careful about what I watch and what I listen to. And so theyre actually forced to reckon with their own masculinity simply because Taylor is there. Its a challenge and I love a challenge. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures are added every day. They just know that this person appears in makeup and feminine attire, and a pronoun is never used. Im so grateful that neither Brandy nor Taylor wear any makeup although they do cover my neck tattoo for Taylor but its a real easy time in the [hair and makeup] chair for me. And I was like, Why am I so connected to this character? And then I realized that this character is upending gender norms. A lot of brands are saying theyre going to make gender neutral clothing. Did you watch Billions before you were cast on the show?I didnt watch it before I was on it. They had more lines. The people that I worked with, they saw that when I got onstage and actually got to live in the clothing that I wanted to be in. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/arts/television/asia-kate-dillon-billions.html, Asia Kate Dillon with Lance Reddick in John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum., I dont have to change my body, said Dillon. Thats how the majority of Americans learn about the queer community. And I would say, youve encountered them in your real life, you just dont know it. 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. But do you think it was significant that Taylor hasnt had a major plot line thats been centered around trauma or bigotry or that type of experience? LGBTQ activists and allies have advocated for gender-neutral acting categories at major awards ceremonies like the Oscars and the Golden Globes. When did you start to get recognized as an actor?I started to get recognized when my season of Orange came out. And I wouldnt count Bugs Bunny as non-binary; I wouldnt say that. And if Taylor, if this fictional character can exist in this fictional world and has been brave enough to get up and get dressed and go out there into the world and be who they really are, then I can too. Its really about white characters getting through the door first. Do you have a job? And I know that because thats been reflected to me by people who have reached out to me on social media or come up to me on the street. So thanks for letting me (Laughs.). Asia Kate Dillon talks about how landing a non-binary role on "Billions" has changed their career. I hope that wasnt too rambling. Most of the time when we think about gender, we think about it as a binary. They noted about being nonbinary, Its a term used by some people, myself included, who experience their gender identity as falling somewhere outside the boxes of man or woman. And I love that I am queer. And that is a character of color in a show featuring indigenous people in a way that indigenous people havent really been represented before. Dillon is competing for an Emmy as Supporting Actor. Asia Kate Dillon - Partner, Ethnicity, Parents, Siblings, Net Worth Top editors. Not everyone identifies within the binary. Lets show some skin. Showtime had a meeting with everyone before my first day of shooting, so then it was just gently correcting people who were misgendering me, not on purpose. And also that a car, which is an inanimate object, would need to have a gender explicitly. Asia Kate Dillon's Role on Billions Helped Inform Their Own Gender Identity. I am actually glad that people try. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-ready videos to electric live events, GQ meets millions of modern men where they live, creating the moments that create conversations. — -- Asia Kate Dillon made history by playing Taylor Mason on "Billions," the first non-binary role on American series television, and on Jan. 11, they were honored for their work with a best . We were like, we just want it to be sexy. Good Omens is a really great example. The balance is too far on one side for now. Its a really interesting representation. 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. But there are shows now that I think are really stepping up and a lot of creators who are really careful and mindful, and its really meaningful for them because these were things they didnt have when they were kids. Sun: The invisibility of being part of the majority. Dillon: Thank you for asking about that. To be clear, I am not trying to dampen a moment that is joyous and one that I celebrate, but I want to address the full picture. Does that make sense? Like donuts and candy. I was having a conversation with a friend recently, and were both cis-gender but realizing a lot of how helpful it is to decouple these gendered characteristics. Dillon: Unless Im misremembering, I had nothing to do with the writing of that scene. But for my character, its different. Your kids are nervous about school shootings heres what to say, Teen banned from prom at Christian school for wearing a dress with mesh cut-outs, People are freaking out about Britney Spears face: Such a shame. And Dillon has recently taken on a new role. Id like to talk about SNLs Pat. ", "I'm not [transitioning] to be interesting. Then it also said, "Some people may refer to this as gender fluid or genderqueer.". Dillon: I encounter this and it doesnt matter what room I was in specifically but where were going around and saying our names, and I am the only person that will offer my pronouns. I think one of the greatest gifts of trans and non-binary representation on TV less so on film, unfortunately is that by featuring people who do not exist inside the binary, it opens the door for cisgender people to break down their own toxic gender stereotypes and reimagine characters and people and what a man and a woman would look and act like and what kinds of roles they can get. Best of Taylor Mason (Asia Kate Dillon) | Billions | SHOWTIME Asia Kate Dillon is an American actress, producer, and director known for portraying various important roles in popular TV shows likeTaylor Mason in Billions andBrandy Epps inOrange Is the New Black. Dillon handles the encounter with grace and without judgement; they are one of the most chill, open-hearted, and patient people/actors Ive ever met. And by doing that Im inherently uplifting and supporting myself. Asia has mentioned that they are attracted to both males and females. What is shown in the story is you dont know that persons gender, and hopefully the lesson is, Dont assume. Dont assume someones gender just because someone is wearing makeup or dressed in historically feminine attire, whatever that means. My pronouns are they, theirs and them.. Asia Kate Dillon was born on November 15, 1984 in Ithaca, New York, USA. For the first time, my body fully reflected my soul how I felt on the inside. Asia Kate Dillon was born on November 15, 1984 in Ithaca, New York, USA. 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. And you cant really ascribe their race to them. I say that with a lot of affection, theyre like sociopaths. And you see Mafee defending Taylor, which is important for people to watch. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day. Theres a sweet, beautiful song. The star, who also identifies as gender non-binary in real life, doesn't mind answering questions about what that means. What is that scary space? A voice faintly hollers in the background: Hollywood Remixed!. 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. And theres good progress. White: Yeah, I had. Dillon is non-binary and uses singular they pronouns. How did you navigate that when you were younger? I combed through this in the first half of this podcast with one of my colleagues who is non-binary, and theres not a long history. Im incredibly proud of Taylor as a character. Lets distinguish todays conversation: Were going to be speaking of the identities that fall under the non-binary identity, but its different from transgender. The first Black person to do anything is both going to be celebrated and also scorned, because they didnt do it the right way and it wasnt enough for everybody. "Some people use it because they identify as both or neither, or simply are experiencing their gender as being fluid. He is able to also hold respect for this person who presumably is the first non-binary person hes ever met, because he actually just sees Taylor as a tool that he can use to achieve his ultimate goal. Lets keep going. The last big concept I wanted to talk about was this difference between characters and actors. I mean, I spent so many years not understanding my own gender identity, not having the language to talk about it, and not feeling safe in many environments to talk about it. So why would anyone know that person is non-binary? Do you think thats what Alec Baldwin achieves on SNL?I havent been watching! Rebecca Sun: Welcome to Hollywood Remixed, a topical podcast about inclusion and representation in culture and entertainment. It was just not a thing. So are we going to see some sort of distance and is it appropriate? My relationship as a non-binary person to my gender which I dont even have a very specific label for, I dont consider myself gender fluid. "I think it's important to be able to be like, 'Yes, your shoulders are broad, yes your hands are big and your voice is deep and you're really tall and people notice you, and that makes you noticeably trans, but that doesn't make you any less beautiful. As I've lived as an openly trans person with the people I love most for many years, I did always wonder when I'd come out publicly. Asia Kate Dillon is a fierce actor with arresting eyes and a buzzcut, known for breakout roles including a Nazi skinhead inmate in Orange Is the New Black and, currently, a calculating. Theyre like, I didnt make these rules. Sun: I think it was incredibly thoughtful. I loved the idea of playing another version of what nonbinary looks like, which is high femme, very decorative. Sun: Its a great answer. Female is a sex, and sex is between our legs, and gender identity is between our ears.. I think that non-binary identity is still sort of fresh for much of the industry. White: Yeah, because its a baby, you know. I have always felt non-binary, before I had the language to conceive or communicate what that was to other people. Your character has had some nude scenes, including a sex scene opposite Mike Birbiglias venture philanthropist character last season. 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. Dillon, 34, identifies as nonbinary, too, with the same preferred pronouns, a gender identity the Billions role helped them clarify. So have you felt excluded, then, by the womens movement, and specifically the Womens March? All Rights Reserved. Dillon identifies as non-binary and uses singular they pronouns. Below, some highlights from our quick but deep conversation. Check out the latest pictures, photos and images of Asia Kate Dillon. But I do think that its happening. Asia Kate Dillon is a performer, writer and director residing in New York City. Hes a bisexual Latino man, a cisgender man. Dillon: When Im engaging in a conversation with someone who is really wanting to expand their own sense of what gender is and can be, and someone who is approaching that conversation with love and an open heart and with vulnerability, then I am totally happy to engage in a conversation with that person about my personal experience of my gender identity. And that creates a ripple effect for other gender identities. What is that line? They are known for playing Brandy Epps in Orange Is the New Black (2013) and Taylor Mason in Billions (2016). Theyre not gendered, and the pronouns are very purposeful, and thats based off, [according to] the experts that Ive talked to, a really age-appropriate way to reach kids that they can understand. 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. To your knowledge, have people told you whether or not thats actually true to life of the real-life hedge fund world? Adult animation has had gay, trans, non-binary characters. When you watch the show and look at the things that the people who work at Axe Capital have on their desks, they have old soy sauce packets or take out containers. 'Billions' Star Asia Kate Dillon Proves There's No Such - GQ And I think thats part of the larger history around non-binary representation in film and television. Sun: Some lucky Billions podcast is going to get to grill you about all the specific moves that Taylor has made. 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. Why are men not allowed to access this characteristic just because its coded as feminine? Catch up on all the episodes of Hollywood Remixed, including last weeks conversation about Asian masculinity and the martial arts trope with Shang-Chi star Simu Liu, and subscribe to the show on the podcast platform of your choice to be alerted when new episodes drop. I think about the concept of the bearded lady, which has been around forever. Steven Universe gets talked about a lot, and I think thats one of the reasons why. Theres a tiny little calculator known as BMO who is genderless, because why wouldnt a tiny little calculator be genderless?, But White notes that representation of gender fluid characters in more grounded, realistic stories is necessary for affording gender non-comforming people their full humanity. Theres another genre in which this sort of gender play is more frequently seen than other genres, and thats science fiction/fantasy. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Maybe because it feels like not a safe space. If I were being misgendered all the time and I didnt have the support of family, friends and co-workers, it would tear me down way more. Stars Open Up About Their Trans Experiences [PHOTOS] - People Two things Ill bring up. Sun: You are so gracious to lend your expertise to this topic. Lets talk a little bit about definitions so that all of us can understand the parameters of what well be talking about today. And I think that writers, in particular TV and film writers, have leaned on sci-fi because its a lot easier to sell the idea that your alien doesnt have a gender, right? You made yourself a burger? Whats wrong with him?!. It feels sensational. And I think the same thing applies when were talking about gender portrayals. You tend to play characters who are emotionally closed off. Taylors notI mean, I dont want to generalize about people who drink Red Bull. Sun: I will give people a spoiler alert if I go into that. Asia Kate Dillon attends the Season 5 celebration of "Orange is the New Black" at Catch, June 9, 2017, in N.Y. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic via Getty Images, FILE And its pretty clear to me when Im engaging with people who arent coming from that place, who just arent coming from a place of love or who arent being genuine, and so because its generally fortunately for me pretty clear whos coming from where, Im able actually to put my energy into a place that feels worth it, where Im getting something out of the exchange too, versus talking to a brick wall that I know is really immovable. And so I think that this storyline on Good Trouble about Gael deciding that hes not going to decide for his baby is really relevant and also really refreshing. Its a masterful way of showing a multidimensional, incredibly complex, awesome character that I think many performers would kill to play. And Ive learned that sometimes you think theres going to be food when you get to set, and there isnt. I think, Actually, I do need to take this opportunity to engage in this conversation, because there is perhaps a bridge to understanding here that will benefit people who dont have a voice, who cant walk down the street without being told to kill themselves.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Asia Kate Dillon: 'This Is Who I Am' - New York Times And those personal moments are important. Did it mean male or female, did it mean man or woman, and if they were dividing people by sex or gender, respectfully, why were they doing that? 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. Here's what to know, Adults with autism say they always felt 'different' growing up. I've been very transparent about my struggles with my body, and with a society that is constantly trying to contain me and label me and define me. ", "There was a physical identity of what people perceived as 'boy,' but that's not how I was feeling inside. That also means that we can put you in dramas and comedies. White: This is really difficult because to have a line of appropriateness, you have to have roles. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Im very curious to see what, for example, Joey Solloway, who I think is probably the most prominent non-binary creator in Hollywood they made Transparent and were a very respected indie film director prior what they will do now that they have come out specifically as non-binary and how to advocate for more voices in that space.
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