Watch LIVE with Kelly and Ryan - Season 31, Episode 164 - Asia Kate Dillon: Kelly and Ryan welcome guest Asia Kate Dillon of "Billions". It said, among other things, “female non-binary.” I thought, “Female and non-binary...aren’t those the same thing?” I really didn’t understand. Asia eventually booked the role of Taylor on Billions, the first character on TV to self-identify as gender non-binary; this also makes Asia the first openly gender non-binary actor on TV. I do say gender fluid, because I experience my gender identity as being fluid because it’s on a spectrum. JM: You mentioned looking up the word, non-binary. ‘Billions’ Star Asia Kate Dillon. Asia Kate Dillon stops by New York Live with Sara Gore and Jacque Reid to talk all things “John Wick 3: Parabellum” including the show-stopping costumes. What’s the appeal? Maybe the iPhone. Willem de Kooning liked them. My obsessions endure! If you hadn’t, what do you think you’d be doing instead? Makeup by Erin Green for Nars at Art Department; Manicure by Roseann Singleton for Chanel at Art Department; Fashion Assistant: Julia McClatchy. The pioneering actor tells Aaron Hicklin how they are harnessing empathy … You’ve worked in so many different mediums over the course of your career, from fashion photography to advertising to directing. JM: I actually hear the exact reverse, where the younger generation is more okay with genderqueer. Your job is to say, “Oh, my gosh, I’m sorry,” and then use the correct pronoun and move on, and that’s exactly what she did. Asia Kate Dillon & Mark Dacascos Whether Dillon ever had any problems quickly saying "The Adjudicator". Most of my ideas about dressing came from that closet. JM: These labels are new, but people who have been gender non-conforming have always existed. Kenneth Ize wears clothing of his own design. My hair has been short since I was 14, but I first shaved it when I was 21. So it was anyone who represented something different, or other—as well as my mother, who has always been my biggest ­supporter. "I am pansexual," reality TV star and trans activist Jazz Jennings declared on Twitter … Recently, I bought one at a resale boutique. Whether it is kindness, confidence, wit, mystery…it is about them being unapologetic about who they are. All forms of play, distraction, construction, making, and destroying…the way we construct and deconstruct reality. Substance, authenticity, even irreverence. Created through an evolving collection of highly acclaimed contemporary artists of diverse mediums, Issue is dedicated to the celebration of creative thought in the arts, photography, music, film, design, culture and style. Taylor dresses very differently than I do. Are you open to playing someone who isn’t in the future? There’s no where else to go. Originality rises above the fray. You never know what shape of head you have until you cut all your hair off. Prince. From the age of 11 or 12, I’d steal clothes from my mom’s closet. My parents really loved clothes. Going to a vintage show or vintage shop is a much more enjoyable experience for me than going to a retail store. It’s less expensive, the quality is better, it’s all unique and one of a kind. A willingness to break the rules, of course; a strong sense of personal style doesn’t hurt; but most of all, you need to have a meaningful point of view. But I’m not an expert at all! He was very daring—he knew the right silhouettes for a man to look sexy. An interview with Asia Kate Dillon about their style, role on Billions, and the representation of non-binary individuals on-screen. Everybody had a kind of club-kid name, but I’ve always been Gary Card. The main characteristic of an Original is an ability to think outside the box, to hold your ground, and to uplift others by your example. After a stellar first season, Showtime’s Billions returns for its second season on February 19th at 10pm ET/PT.The series stars Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti and follows their lives as they navigate the world of power politics in New York high finance. They cost $620. I’m constantly going back to the world of the West. Originality is subversive. And so, if you change the category to performer, and we see that nine cis men are nominated, and one person of color is nominated, then we really have to look at that and go, “Okay, what do we do about this?”. I wore a lot of turtlenecks, Converse sneakers, and parachute pants or JNCO jeans. The most original thing is the way everyone invents their own version of reality and all of the games we create to keep busy and then share with other people. Who do you think is an Original? It was just like, Well, this is who I am. Asia Kate Dillon is an actor who has made history through their role of Taylor Mason on the Showtime series Billions, which marks the first non-binary main role on American television. Bottom row from left: Tracee wears a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello blazer, tights and shoes. People say it’s when I started to do figures on flat ground. INTERVIEW. Non-binary is a gender identity. In the first email I received from my agent about an audition, there was a character breakdown for Taylor that said “female gender nonbinary.” And I didn’t really understand. What was your style like as a teenager? So I put on sweatpant shorts, black Balenciaga sandals with a lot of straps, and an oversize David Bowie T-shirt, and my hair is in cornrows. It’s also important for me to say that as someone who was assigned female at birth, and is white, I think my message of gender as a spectrum is certainly received better than people who are assigned male at birth and are people of color. That was the first time that it really clicked for me—that I had words to describe a feeling that I’d had from the time that I was very young, even though I didn’t experience gender or body dysphoria. I didn’t ever need a pseudonym, because my name was already so ridiculous that it just fit. What was your style like as a teenager? The word non-binary, to me, opens the conversation in a way that hasn’t been opened before. Spending time over-apologizing or feeling bad about yourself in a way that makes the situation about you, instead of the person you misgendered, is not a helpful way to be an ally. AKD: No, not at all. I don’t think we need to be separating people based on their gender identity or their sex before we judge and award art. Oddly enough, Khloé Kardashian has also played a role in that; she referred to you as “Miss Asia” in a tweet praising your performance as Taylor, which you both managed to turn into an educational exchange about pronouns. They aren’t even business casual—they’re just business, and it’s through that look that they hold a lot of their power. I think everything is personal. We got up rather early to have a chat with the no-nonsense agent of the High Table, The Adjudicator. What’s the worst beauty trend that you’ve participated in? There are four of us. I just spent so many of my formative days in that park that I still get misty-eyed. They currently star in Orchid Receipt Service, a play which they produced, alongside a cast primarily made up of transgender and gender-nonconforming artists. A part of me wants to take my image out of my work. Or the perfectly unusual beauty of Isabella Rossellini. I’ve heard from people from all over the world, of all different ages, who say, “I’m nonbinary and I never knew that there was anyone else like me”; some say, “I’m a parent of someone who’s just come out as nonbinary and/or trans, and I now know what that means”; and I’ve even had people reach out to me and say, “I’m a right-wing conservative who was homophobic and transphobic, but I love your character and it helped change my heart and my mind and create understanding within me.” I don’t think any of us anticipated that Billions would be a teaching tool, but it’s a silver lining that’s been really, really cool. Dillon became the first non-binary gender identifying actor to be cast on a major television series for Billionsand is forwarding the conversation on what it means to be gender-nonconforming. I’ve always used the word “actor,” even before I came into an understanding of my nonbinary gender identity. I think that it’s important to say that trans people exist, and we are valid, whether we choose to transition or not. Prince in particular just would fluctuate from high glam and totally sort of rock ’n’ roll and avant-garde to very casual. As a child, were you always into clothes? I plucked my eyebrows really thin in the ’90s. I could maybe wear them on one arm now, they were so tight. JM: There’s no where else to go from there, I guess. Mar 15, 2018 - Explore artisqueer's board "asia kate dillon" on Pinterest. While they stopped using gendered pronouns a couple of years ago (originally opting for just their name, they now prefer they, them, and theirs), it wasn’t until Asia auditioned for the TV show, Billions, that they discovered the word, non-binary. Netflix star Brigette Lundy-Paine said they "always felt a lil bit boy, lil bit girl, lil bit neither." As the first woman signed to Supreme, do you feel a sense of responsibility to represent other women who skate? It goes back. I guess everyone had that phase. Graphic Designer, Photographer, Illustrator, Director. In fact, we actually had to do that a couple of years ago, and I was like, Oh, my God. I was in shock. What’s the worst fashion trend that you’ve participated in? I’ve read one side that says, “Yeah, genderqueer just means you’re queer with your gender and it’s not a big deal.” I’ve also read that it’s a derogatory term that the younger generation doesn’t want to use any more. I thought, Well, how can you have a female gender, but not a gender-nonbinary identity? It really was an incredibly freeing experience to finally be able to live in the full truth of who I was, and really gratifying and humbling to get to play a character who would have meant so much to me when I was younger. I didn’t have that language for it when I was younger—I just knew that “actress” was specifically associated with girls and women, and “actor” was and is a gender-neutral word that always felt right to me. That was the sex I was assigned at birth. I remember I had this little suit and tie, and he taught me how to tie a tie. It just hit home so hard. This interview has been edited and condensed. He kept me busy for a couple of years, and I couldn’t believe the stuff I was getting away with when I first started out. Like one line—it was really sad. Jan 19, 2019 - After a stellar first season, Showtime’s Billions returns for its second season on February 19th at 10pm ET/PT. Both of the most prominent characters you’ve portrayed—Taylor on Billions and the Adjudicator in John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum—are nonbinary. When was that? I looked up both of those words, and I thought, “Oh my gosh. Interview: Asia Kate Dillon Currently airing its fifth season on Showtime, Billions has become one of the biggest hit series on television today. Related: Sad Keanu: An Encounter With Keanu Reeves, Poet. Asia Kate Dillon is one of the first non-binary gender stars on mainstream TV. As a teenager, there was a time when I started buying vintage clothes. When you look back at your career, do you have any regrets? What’s your secret skill? Still, I was absolutely delighted when Nicola messaged me back. *Asia Kate Dillon wears an Hermès jacket and pants; Charvet shirt; Dior socks; their own earrings.*. I would go to the store and visit that bag. Taylor and the Adjudicator both have very defined—and very different—styles. The bottom line is that, regardless of their differences, they all share one very important trait: for them, standing out, rather than blending in, is not an option but a necessity. While they stopped using gendered pronouns a couple of years ago (originally opting for just their name, they now prefer they, them, and theirs), it wasn’t until Asia auditioned for the TV … I must have been like 5. Every day is different: How I dress on any given day depends on what person I want to reflect to the world. Asia Kate Dillon plays barrier-breaking non-binary character, Taylor Mason, on Showtime’s "Billions" -- the first major non-binary character to hit American television. AKD: When I got the character breakdown for Taylor on Billions. How would you describe your style? I’d done research into the term genderqueer and I’m still in the processes of trying to figure out if that word is okay to use or not, actually. However, 2017, during an interview on The Ellen Show, Asia Kate Dillon revealed that they have a partner who they are romantically involved with, and they described him as male. This morning, I decided I wanted to look a little like a skater chick. And my mom and dad. We’re talking about their dog, a 20-pound poodle-beagle-terrier mix named Herbert, when I tentatively ask where the actor adopted him. Philip Guston called me up. Describe originality in three words. When this character came my way, not only was Taylor a fully fleshed out queer character in this world, but then the non-binary thing. Profile: Taylor Swift. When I showed my first painting in an avant-garde gallery, an older artist came over to me and said, “Figuration is obsolete.” I just said, “Terrific.” Twice I had people screaming in the gallery: in Provincetown in 1960 and in Paris in 1975—actually screaming. How does your personal style compare? I called my mother up and she said, “Oh, you finally got someone interested in you.”. AKD: Yeah. Though his real identity wasn’t mentioned, Ellen, the host convincingly believed that their partner is of the male gender. Who was the first person who made you realize you could break the rules? In an interview with Insider, the actor explained they asked for their character The Adjudicator in John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum to be non-binary. Interview with Asia Kate Dillon – John Wick: Chapter 3 The ever-expanding world of John Wick adds Asia Kate Dillon to the cast in Chapter 3 – Parabellum . Who is your style icon? Actor Asia Kate Dillon currently stars on Showtime’s Billions in a groundbreaking role as Taylor Mason, a brilliant, gender non-binary finance intern. Jazz Jennings. How to Buy a Seriously Cool Rug . I just loved being elegant and relaxed at the same time. I have a clear memory of being in high school, wearing big combat boots and tights when it was winter. When did you first shave your head? California or Wyoming. I think they served as a way for me to be more comfortable performing. My personal style is about being as comfortable as possible at all times. AKD: Totally, I mean, it’s one of the things I’m so fascinated by recently. ... An Interview with Calvin Klein. A paperweight of my partner Lawrence Steele’s testicles cast in bronze by the artist Sarah Lucas. Is there a common thread among all your work? Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. ©2021 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Who is your beauty icon? Feeling ambiguous about my gender identity has been a life long feeling. How would you describe your signature style now? Then, when I was on the show Girlfriends, I had a tradition of buying myself a gift when we were renewed for a new season, and my favorite one was a pair of Vivienne Westwood pirate boots. For my entire life I’ve been trying to get back to being that little girl! Now, one of the things that really excites me about playing Taylor is they are a fully fleshed-out human being who’s complicated and integral to the plot of the story. My father commuted to Manhattan, so he would bring me in when I was a little girl for, like, Daddy and Daughter Day. I don’t think I ever picked a style. At W we are all about celebrating originality, which is why we’ve rounded up some of our favorite people who are constantly pushing boundaries, and asked them to share valuable insights. Photograph by Andreas Laszlo Konrath; Styled by Nora Milch. At what point did you realize that you identify as nonbinary? Sad Keanu: An Encounter With Keanu Reeves, Poet. Today is National Voter Registration Day! Asia Kate Dillon interview: the non-binary Billions star on misgendering, Sam Smith, and feeling 'like an impostor' Save Asia Kate Dillion in 2018 Credit: REX I was like, I want to know what I really look like, and to me, somehow, that meant that I needed to shave my head. With the Internet and the world becoming so much smaller, the specificity of “I’m going to New York to find something I can’t find anywhere else in the world” just doesn’t exist anymore. Asia Kate Dillon Talks Discovering The Word Non-Binary: 'I Cried'. See more ideas about asia kate dillon, kate dillon, dillon. But they both just went with whatever they were feeling at the time and also clearly were interested in being fluid—whatever that meant to them. There’s a photo of me as a toddler: I’m stark naked except for a pair of my mom’s [Diana Ross] high-heeled pumps, standing on a shag carpet in front of her closet. Do you think New York has changed for the worse over the years? One of the reasons for the success of the series is the character Taylor Mason, played by the wonderful Asia Kate Dillon. I was determined, and the timing was right. To me, they’re all the same. What was the first item of clothing that you bought for yourself? Do you still have moments now when you visit a certain area in the city and have vivid flashbacks or memories? I think, this idea that trans people bring to the surface, that assigned sex and gender identity don’t always conform, the idea that your anatomy doesn’t make your gender anything other than what you decide that it is, is profound for anyone to realize. As Grace approached the cage, taunting the beast, all the lights went out, and when they came back on a few seconds later, the tiger had disappeared: Alone in the cage, Grace was munching on a big piece of fake meat as she glared furiously at the audience. Octavia Butler, although she’s no longer with us. They were expensive—about $800 or $900, which was generally out of my range. I have one of Elvis Presley’s TCB pendants and his original glasses. They describe the moment as, “an explosion in my mind.”. It was really fun for me to play two different nonbinary characters who have two distinct styles—in part to show the world that nonbinary can look many different ways. Bob Hughes [Robert Hughes, then the art critic of Time] really pissed me off—he called me the Norman Rockwell of the intelligentsia. Asia Kate Dillon has been a trailblazer in their portrayal of the non-binary character Mason and Dillon is excited for fans to check out season five of the series. Do you remember your Myspace name at the time? Who is your style icon? It’s high femme and high fashion, so very angular and very vintage Thierry Mugler. One time, around 2 a.m., I was waiting to go to set, and Keanu noticed I was reading Illuminations, by Arthur Rimbaud. But I also got a ton of bad reviews. I’m just doing me, but if somebody can see themselves in me, I’ll try to do my best to show them that things are possible. Photograph by Andreas Laszlo Konrath; Styled by Nora Milch. Asia Kate Dillon wears an Hermès jacket and pants; Charvet shirt; Dior socks; Converse sneakers; their own earrings. But the worst one was Hilton Kramer, the art critic of The New York Times, telling me how I had lost my way, how I used to be a good painter, and how it was a moral decline. Last Look: The Row . If I can get away with wearing pajamas and having it look fashionable, then I’ve succeeded. Center and far-right: Alberta Ferretti blazer, blouse, and hat. Beatrice Domond wears a Comme des Garçons Comme des Garçons shirt and skirt; The M Jewelers B necklace; Falke socks; Marni shoes; her own necklace and rings. Frete GRÁTIS em milhares de produtos com o Amazon Prime. Okay, female, that’s an assigned sex. My mother, right off the bat. I think a lot of people—there was a time when I thought this way—thought transgender meant someone who had transitioned, right? I also loved my grandmother’s style: Her hands were covered in beautiful rings, and her closet door was long strings of beads hanging down—no actual door. Express: The Chill Zone . I honestly feel the worst that could happen is that I’m nailed down somewhere—like, someone puts a pin in me and I exist on a mood board forever. And I’ve never lost interest in seizing that daily opportunity. Jonah Hill wears a 45rpm T-shirt; Marni pants; Adidas sneakers. There’s actually a word for it.”. What does originality mean to you? What I really, really wanted was a Stephen Sprouse Graffiti Louis Vuitton bag, but I couldn’t justify the cost. During the interview, Dillon, whose personal style is about comfort, also touched on the idea of gender neutral clothing, ... 1 /1 Actor Asia Kate Dillon opens up about wearing swimwear as non-binary. I realized that there are people who accept originality and some people who are afraid of what it may mean to their lives. I think there’s a confidence you have to have being original. Gender identity and anatomical assigned sex are different.” It was like...an explosion in my mind. So I did some research and discovered that “female” referred to assigned sex at birth, and “nonbinary” was a term used by some people who experience their gender identity as falling somewhere outside of the boxes of boy or girl, or man or woman. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. 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