Asia Kate Dillon, the non-binary actor known for roles in “John Wick” and Showtime’s “Billions,” says she’s returning to the food service industry because acting jobs have dried up.
Dillon, 41, whose most recent role was in the 2025 indie film “Outerlands,” posted on Instagram on Oct. 20 that she has worked exclusively in theater, film and TV for eleven years but can no longer find enough acting work to make a living.
“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.”
Dillon said she got her start at a bakery at 15 and worked various food service jobs before acting took off. “I love customer service,” she wrote. “I love creating welcoming environments for people to relax in and connect with each other. I love food and drink.”
She added that she expects the biggest challenge will be learning new point-of-sale systems, but said she’s “a quick study” and available for part-time, night and weekend work.
A Wider Pattern in Hollywood
Dillon is not alone. Actor Billy Porter said this year that queer performers can’t make a living in what he called “Donald Trump’s America,” blaming Trump’s government for holding queer actors back. “Queer as Folk” star Ryan O’Connell has complained that Hollywood has pulled back on gay-themed projects, saying, “It’s Tim Allen’s world again and we’re just living in it.” “Matrix” director Lilly Wachowski, who is transgender, has criticized the industry for refusing to back an all-transgender action film.
But the trouble extends well beyond LGBTQ performers. “Princess Diaries” actress Heather Matarazzo and actor Jack Haven have both said their roles have dried up, and both have lost union healthcare coverage because they can no longer earn enough acting income to meet SAG-AFTRA’s eligibility threshold.
Drake Bell, best known for Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh,” has publicly denounced the union after it told him he didn’t qualify for health insurance. In an October post, Bell wrote: “Do not become an actor. Do not join SAG. You can work for 35 years and they still say [middle finger emoji].”
