Asia Kate Dillon, who starred in shows like “Orange Is the New Black” and “Billions,” took to social media on Tuesday to share that they are looking for service work after their acting work “has all but diminished” after eleven years in the industry.
Dillon began their statement by going through previous service jobs they’ve held, from dishwasher to floor manager to food runner. “When I was fifteen, I got my first job in food service,” they wrote, and stayed in the industry until they were able to support themselves full-time as an actor.
“I continued working in food and general customer service, alongside any acting gigs I could rustle up, until the fall of 2015 when I was finally able to make the transition to a full time income stemming from just my acting work. I have worked exclusively in theater, film and TV for the last eleven years,” Dillon continued. “Now, like for many, many performer colleagues of mine — particularly those of us who are trans/nonbinary/gender nonconforming — acting work has all but diminished, and I’m in need of service work once more.”
Dillon first appeared in single episodes of shows like “Younger,” “Opus for All” and “Master of None” before booking “Orange Is the New Black,” which they went on to star in for 19 episodes as Brandy Epps. In 2017, they landed the role of Taylor Mason on “Billions,” which they played across six seasons and 71 episodes. Dillon also had roles in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” “The Outside Story” and “Gen: Lock,” and starred in the film “Outerlands” in 2025.
In late 2026, Dillon publicly came out as non-binary. They were the first gender nonbinary performer to play a nonbinary character on a major TV show. In 2020, the actor called for the SAG Awards (now known as the Actor Awards) to abolish gender-specific categories, writing that “separating people based on their assigned sex, and/or their gender identity, is not only irrelevant when it comes to how an acting performance should be judged, it is also a form of discrimination.”
Read Dillon’s full statement here.
Hello!
In the year 2000, when I was fifteen, I got my first job in food service. It was a weekend gig at the (locally) famous, always bustling Ithaca Bakery. I worked mornings; first up was sorting the freshly baked piping hot bagels in their respective bins, and then I would move into rotating and stocking the drink fridges. Throughout my shift my duties included maintaining the coffee station in the center of the retail floor – lids, sugars, straws, stirrers, sleeves, I kept everything very tidy – cleaning and restocking the restroom, mopping up inevitable customer spills, ferrying dirty and then clean dish bins to and from the dining areas, and greeting customers. I loved it.
Ranging from dishwasher to food runner to floor manager, I continued working in food and general customer service, alongside any acting gigs I could rustle up, until the fall of 2015 when I was finally able to make the transition to a full time income stemming from just my acting work. I have worked exclusively in theater, film and TV for the last eleven years.
Now, like for many, many performer colleagues of mine – particularly those of us who are trans/nonbinary/gender nonconforming – acting work has all but diminished, and I’m in need of service work once more.
I love customer service. I love creating welcoming environments for people to relax in and connect with each other. I love food and drink. I am passionate and curious, and a great teammate. I imagine the hurdle to reentry will be learning the new POS systems, but I’m a quick study. I’m available for part time, night and weekend work.
Thanks in advance for your consideration.
All best,
Asia Kate Dillon
(they/them)