Asia Kate Dillon – Billions

By starrymag | May 10, 2020

By: Kelly Kearney

 

 

Q) Taylor Mason is the first nonbinary trans character on TV.  In the past, you’ve said the role was a life changing one. Why is representation of fully fleshed out LGBT characters like Taylor so important to you and to our society as a whole?

 

A) It is important because A. there are places where it’s not safe to be out and visible if you are trans gender nonconforming or nonbinary and B. you wouldn’t know if there were trans people or non-binary people because they’re not out. So, if you are someone in a place like that, it can be very isolating. And the media, which can reach all of those little pockets, has the responsibility to represent historically marginalized and historically disenfranchised people as fully flushed out human beings because 85% of Americans say they don’t know a trans person. Their only reference for the trans community is through the media and so the media has to, HAS TO, give an accurate and truthful representation.

 

Q) Things will be tense now that Taylor is back at Axe Capital. Without spoiling anything, what can fans expect to see Taylor get into this season. Will their moral compass be tested even more than usual?

 

A) Hmm…Well, I went into the season with a lot of excitement and curiosity like I always do, but this season I was particularly curious about the Taylor and Wendy’s (Maggie Siff) relationship. You know, last season there was so many games, so much breaking of trust, so many lies and I’ve been just really curious how that relationship would repair itself or if it would repair itself. Working with Maggie Siff is such a gift every time, so I was really excited and curious for that. You know, I think this season all the characters, certainly Taylor, are having to answer some really existential questions about how to be good while existing within the parameters that the show and the characters are existing within. The situations that Taylor confronts this season, which forced them to confront that question, I think are the most profound that we’ve seen for Taylor so far.

 

Q) Taylor is a sometimes cold, but an extremely brilliant numbers guru who is usually the smartest person in the room. Is there anything you, Asia, identify with that helps you tap into Taylor’s personality when playing them?

 

A) I really have to give a lot of credit to the writers. I think it’s really easy for me to slip into the character of Taylor because they’re written so well. Also, the costume design is so incredible that literally when you combine…When I put on the clothes and I say the words, it really feels like it’s just Taylor. Taylor’s wearing those clothes and that is who they are. I become Taylor. I know that’s not an elegant way of putting it, but I certainly rely on the costume and the writing. [laughs] Then, I think I’m really focused on my scene partner and the emotional intention of the scene and I’m really drawing on, I think, whatever training I have as an actor to make sure that I’m present and listening and that I’m doing my part to tell the larger story of the episode.

 

Q) What is something that you’ve created as backstory or something that was in their initial breakdown that might surprise fans to learn about them?

 

A) Oh gosh. Well, okay. I will say I try not to come up with too much back story because I don’t want it to turn out to be wrong. [laughs] If I told myself that Taylor was from a divorced family and then we learned last season that is not true I would’ve set myself up for some dangerous territory. But I do like to think about like what might Taylor’s favorite book be or what music does Taylor listen to. For example, at the end of Season Three there’s a band that comes in and plays and everyone goes to a show. I remember David Levien, one of the co-creators of the show, said if Taylor was going to go see a musical performance who would Taylor buy tickets to go see? And without hesitation I just said Annie Lennox. So, whatever in me came up with that right away for Taylor I think they could get into some of Annie Lennox.

 

Q) As Wendy said in the premiere, Axe capital used to be a fun place but now it’s all tribal division. Brian Koppelman called this season, “the most Billions-y Billions yet!” Does that mean more fun times and body sushi are ahead?

 

A) Yeah, I think…Well, here’s what I’ll say. You’re definitely picking up what the show is putting down. I know that Brian and David never like to reveal what’s coming because they want people to sort of get fully absorbed and go into an episode knowing they’re going to get the “Billions” that they’ve come to love. So, I think without revealing anything that you’re also picking up what’s being put down.

 

Q) This season is the most important currency on “Billions” money and power or is it trust? It seems trust and the lack thereof are what rules Chuck, Axe and all the other characters in this universe.

 

A) Yeah. [pause] Gosh, very astute! I think you’re right. Yeah. [laughs] I think trust. Well, trust may be the currency this season that all the characters come to realize is perhaps more important than money or certainly asking the question is there a currency more important or more powerful and influential than money. That’s certainly a question that is posed this season.

Q) The pressure is on Taylor this season and finds them pitted between Chuck’s need to have eyes and ears at Axe Cap and their own goals which could lead to taking down Axe altogether. This tension leads them to taking out their frustrations in a Rage Room. What was it like filming that destruction scene and what or who was Taylor thinking about when they swung that bat?

 

A) [excited] Oh! Well…It was f’ing AWESOME! Thank you so much Brian and David! I mean Taylor…As I think as I said earlier, all the characters are certainly this season trying to figure out how to be good and also make millions of dollars. And I think that existential crisis, in many ways, weighs on them and has weighed on them since the beginning. I think this rage room was an opportunity for someone like Taylor who…I think there are certain people who let’s say would go play paintball, which is one example of like a group activity where more people would be able to get out some of their rage. But I think for Taylor it was really important that they be in a place of isolation where they could really totally lose their stuff and in that scene I was just thinking about the limits that Taylor has pushed themselves to; the edges that Taylor has gone to in which they have crossed moral and ethical lines and done some pretty morally reprehensible things to get where they are, to make the money that they’ve made. I think this season there are questions of redemption that are certainly floating in Taylor’s mind.

Q) In today’s social and political climate where there seems to be a civil war brewing between the ‘haves and the have nots,’ what is it about this show that attracts viewers to dive in and escape their realities for an hour? 

A) Well…I’ll just speak for myself I guess as a fan of the show. I’m a fan of the show because it manages to both be entertaining and it leaves me thinking about the world we live in and asking questions about the “haves and have nots,” about capitalism, about the patriarchy and about why things are the way they are. And, for me, a show that manages to be both entertaining and leave me asking big questions is a success… and then I get to go, “Oh my gosh! I’m on that show!” For me, that’s really, really exciting. I’ve always said the show feels very Shakespearean to me and I think Shakespeare loved his drama. Just LOVED it, right?

Q) You’ve also starred in the smash-hit franchise John Wick. Fans are dying to know if there is any chance that we could see you back for John Wick 4? 

A) Oh my gosh, I mean anything is possible. Anything as possible. The character lived at the end of John Wick 3, so the door was left wide open as far as I’m concerned.

Q) What are the other recent projects you have been busy working on?

A) Well, thank you for asking. I did just release my first EP. It’s called Handsome Hands. It’s available for download across all platforms and 100% of the proceeds are going to the Marsha P Johnson Institute, which is an institute that works too specifically uplift black trans people, black trans women. They also support and uplift transgender nonconforming nonbinary people of color as well. I think it’s really important for me. I have this platform and I’m able to draw attention to the fact that not only do black trans women and trans people of color blazed the trail that I have gotten to join long before I was born. But they are disproportionately affected by violence and therefore also certainly by COVID-19. So, I just wanted to bring attention to the institute and then my album is directly inspired by my relationship with my nonbinary partner so the album itself inherently is supporting nonbinary people but also queer people and hopefully doing a double service of bringing attention to the work the Institute is doing so thank you for asking me about that

Q) Fans are so grateful for the show and your outspoken support of inclusion and representation in media. What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Oh gosh, I just want to say thank you so much! I think I’ll take a page out of Prince’s book. He liked to call fans by “friends” or his followers “friends.” And I think, ultimately, anyone who is a friend of mine is just as vital and important to the intricate fabric of existence as I am. So, I am here with you. I get energy with you. I hope you get energy with me. We’re all connected and I think if there’s one thing that COVID-19 has brought to the surface, other than exposing all of these systems that have been systems of oppression for so long, but it also brought to the surface how much we all are interconnected and I think that’s a silver lining.