Anywhere but Boring – Part 2
7 - IMAGE: Dylan in a letterman jacket and jeans, standing next to a locker on set. CAPTION: “This is from the pilot episode. I thought I’d be out of here in no time. I’ve never been more wrong in my life.”
Next thing I know, I get a call from Rick – my agent who’d been ghosting me for months. “Dude, they loved you! You got the part!”
I was shocked as hell. First of all, I hadn’t gotten a callback in forever, let alone landed a role. They bought my bullshit?’ I thought. Maybe I’m a better actor than I give myself credit for.
Everyone was there for the first table read - the cast, the writers, the producers. And we didn’t just have a catered lunch from some hole-in-the-wall deli, we had a full spread! Sushi, steak, the works. That’s when I realized this show had some serious backing.
They introduced me as ‘Dylan Kirkham, playing Lily’. Now came the hard part, because I was supposed to be a not-yet-transitioning trans girl both on the show and in real life! How the hell was I supposed to pull that off?
8 – IMAGE: A scene from the show. Daisy is painting Dylan’s nails after he has come out to her. “These screenshots are from episode 2, the night after Lincoln comes out to Nisha as Lily. The awkwardness was real, but Daisy made it easier.”
Fortunately, the table read went smoothly. No one seemed to suspect a thing. Sometimes I felt like an undercover spy - other times like a lying piece of shit in way over his head.
Most of my early scenes were with Daisy, who played Nisha. She already had a fan base from “First Daughter” on the Disney Channel. Thank God she was super nice. But she was also the first one to say, “You are so brave to transition on screen.
I tried to play it cool. “You mean, like, wearing makeup and skirts? I’m looking forward to it.”
“Oh, sure,” she said. “And you’ll look super cute. But I was more talking about the medical part. You know, the hormones and... whatever else you want to do. Millions of people watched me go through puberty on TV, so I get it. It’s kind of the same thing. God, is that insensitive? I didn’t mean it that way.”
Now, remember, only a quarter of shows with a pilot get picked up for a full season, and of those, even fewer get renewed. So, I thought, ‘No big deal. I’ll just ride this out for a few months, collect my fat network paycheck, and move on.’
9 – IMAGE: A scene from the show. Dylan is in the tub. Daisy is helping ‘Lily’ shave her legs. Dylan is feeling his smooth leg. “That dumb look on my face isn’t acting. We did the shaving all for real on set, so we only had one take to get it right. It felt weird as hell.”
“No, it’s not insensitive!” I told Daisy. “I can’t wait to get my hands on those sweet, sweet girl pills. But I’m forcing myself to hold off so the audience can see Lily’s transition unfold over time. It’ll be more realistic. I’ve waited 22 years, so what’s a few more months?”
Daisy has the brightest smile. “God, you’re gonna be amazing! I wish I had your dedication. My last show was all conspiracies and secret societies. Ugh. This is so real, you know? Real struggles, real people. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
“Me too,” I said. And I wanted so badly for that to be true.
The first day on set, I’m standing in front of the camera, wearing a letterman jacket and trying not to sweat through my shirt. The director yells “Action!” and suddenly it’s real.
Honestly, I don’t even remember those first few takes. My mind was racing, thinking about every single detail I had to get right. Did I say my lines correctly? Did I look awkward? Was I believable as Lincoln, who would soon become Lily?
10 - IMAGE: A scene from the show. Dylan (as Lily) is standing in a dress looking in a mirror. Daisy (as Nisha) is standing behind him, her expression a mixture of happy and sad. “Daisy brought such powerful emotion to these scenes. This was when Nisha first sees Lily in a dress. She’s happy for her, but also realizes she’s losing her boyfriend forever.”
But, somehow, according to everyone who sure as shit would’ve told me if I messed up, I nailed my scenes. 
We filmed Lincoln’s drunken confession in Nisha’s bedroom the next day. That was tough. The writers did an amazing job capturing Lincoln’s vulnerability, and it hit closer to home more than I expected.
Daisy was kind enough to tell me I’d made her cry for real. “You brought something to Lincoln I didn’t see coming,” she said. “I thought I wouldn’t be able to connect with him since he’s kind of this persona that Lily is trying to shed. But he’s a part of her, isn’t he?”
“Totally,” I replied. “There’s good parts of him that Lily wants to hold onto, and parts she can’t wait to leave behind.”
11 – IMAGE: A scene from the show. Dylan (as Lily) hugs her father after she comes out to him as trans. “The writers wanted Lily’s dad to accept her right away to push back on the narrative that trans kids always face rejection. Ross nailed it - especially his later single-father cluelessness on how to handle his suddenly very hormonal new daughter!”
The next big scene was when Lily comes out to her dad. Ross Scott, who played my on-screen father, was a seasoned actor with decades of experience. He brought a warmth and gravitas to the role that made everything feel authentic.
We were in this cozy living room set, and the director had the whole crew leave. It was just me, Ross, and the director.
I remember my hands shaking as I delivered my lines. “Dad, I need to tell you something important. I’ve felt this way for a long time, but I didn’t know how to say it. I’m not your son, I’m your daughter.”
I can’t even recall his next line. I just remember his eyes, the way they glinted, then softened. Ross had this incredible ability to convey so much with a look. He pulled me into an unscripted hug and I swear my body melted into it. I forgot we were on a set in sunny Los Angeles. I forgot we were surrounded by cameras and lights. I forgot Dylan. For that split second, I was Lily in body, mind, and soul.
When the director called cut, it was like waking up from a dream.
And, yeah, those are the scenes that took social media by storm. Of course, there were four other main characters in the show, each with their own arcs. But Lily’s journey seemed to resonate the most. The writers deserve most of the credit for that. They didn’t shy away from the hard stuff. 
12 – IMAGE: Dylan at the Golden Globes in a gown with his curly hair straightened and wearing a gown. “The makeup artists insisted on straightening my hair for the awards shows.”
Then, my worst fear became reality. The show wasn’t canceled. It exploded!
Critics loved it, audiences were hooked, and suddenly, I was a household name. And not as Dylan Kirkham, aspiring action star, but as Lily, the trans girl from “Anywhere but Boring.”
We were renewed for a second season before the first finished airing. Suddenly, there were interviews, photo shoots, and press junkets. 
The worst part? The writers told me what to expect for season 2. “Her social transition is only the beginning. Next, we’re showcasing her medical transition. And don’t worry, the studio will cover all the expenses. Isn’t that great?”
I nodded along, keeping my face neutral. Inside, I was screaming. I’d gotten pretty good at taping my pecs together to create the illusion of cleavage, but I didn’t want real boobs!
I had exactly three months to figure out how in the hell I could back out of my contract without destroying my career...or I’d have to kiss my dreams of action stardom goodbye forever.