Gender poser for acclaimed series star Asia Kate Dillon
FANS of the Showtime series “Billions” have spent much of the second season enamoured of the relatively unknown Asia Kate Dillon, who portrays a gender non-binary character named Taylor Mason.
Dillon’s breakout performance has arguably surpassed those of the show’s established stars, Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis and Maggie Siff. In fact, it so impressed Showtime that the network planned to submit Dillon’s performance to this year’s Emmy Awards.
There was only one issue. Much like the Mason character, Dillon identifies as non- gender binary and uses the pronoun “they.” The Emmy Awards, meanwhile, only have two categories for best supporting performance — actor and actress. The network asked Dillon which category Dillon would rather be submitted to.
Dillon wasn’t sure. The performer is new to the experience of identifying as nonbinary. In fact, auditioning for the character of Mason led Dillon to self- discovery. As Dillon told Vulture:
“… when I saw the breakdown for the character, it said ‘ female, nonbinary.’ And I thought, “Interesting, I think I know about those words, but let me do research into every aspect of this character and their world and who they are.” And so, female meaning sex and nonbinary meaning a gender identity that is an umbrella term for people who identify as neither man nor a woman. I just went, oh my gosh, there is language to express something about myself that I’ve always known, but could never put words to.”
So Dillon researched the language behind “actor” and “actress,” then wrote a letter to the Television Academy, questioning the current system.
“I’d like to know if in your eyes ‘actor’ and ‘actress’ denote anatomy or identity and why it is necessary to denote either in the fi rst place?” Dillon asked in the letter, which was obtained by Variety.
Dillon then pointed out, “The reason I’m hoping to engage you in a conversation about this is because if the categories of ‘actor’ and ‘actress’ are in fact supposed to represent ‘best performance by a person who identifies as a woman’ and ‘ best performance by a person who identifies as a man’ then there is no room for my identity within that award system binary.” Added Dillon, “Furthermore, if the categories of ‘actor’ and ‘actress’ are meant to denote assigned sex I ask, respectfully, why is that necessary?” The academy quickly responded, telling Dillon the rules state “anyone can submit under either category for any reason,” Dillon told the magazine. The Emmy Awards 2015-2016 official rules and procedures do not state any sort of gender or sex requirement for the various acting categories. Dillon chose to enter the actor category, stating, “Given the choice between actor and actress, actor is a nongendered word that I use. That’s why I chose actor.” — WPBloomberg
I’d like to know if in your eyes ‘actor’ and ‘actress’ denote anatomy or identity and why it is necessary to denote either in the first place? Asia Kate Dillon, performer