Lani Billard

Last updated

Lani Billard
Born (1979-06-20) 20 June 1979 (age 44)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater Unionville High School
Occupation(s)Actress, Singer, Drummer
Years active1992-present
Known for Ready or Not

Lani Billard (born 20 June 1979) is a Canadian actress, drummer, and singer, she is best known for her role in the 1990s as Elizabeth "Busy" Ramone on the Canadian television series Ready or Not from 1993 to 1997. Before her Ready Or Not fame, she was frequently cast on a show called Friends of Research and Odd Gadgets F.R.O.G. a children's science series produced by Toronto's OWL-TV. F.R.O.G.s 30-minute episodes follow four pre-teens who examine the "whys" of science with animation and provide the latest news gathered by kids, documentary style. Billard has also appeared in Owning Mahowny, Bonds (a short film) Sarah Polley's award-winning film Stories We Tell documentary, Let's Rap (short film) & Saving Hope (TV series). While she acted with fellow castmate Laura Bertram on the Canadian Television series Ready or Not into Season 5, in 1996 she would appear with Bertram in the TV movie Sins of Silence for a brief scene.

Contents

Billard was raised Jewish [1] [ failed verification ] and attended Unionville High School [2] in Markham, Ontario, where she graduated in 1997.[ citation needed ]

Billard has since become a vocalist, singing independently and collaborating with Canadian acts such as iLL Vibe, L.S, & Grossman.[ citation needed ] She has provided backing vocals and drumming for her 'Ready Or Not' fellow castmate, Tamara Podemski for Podemski's group "Spirit Nation" which performs in Podemski's native Ojibwa language.[ citation needed ] Lani is professionally trained to play drums and percussion. She has a three-octave singing range.[ citation needed ]

Personal life

When not performing, Billard practices reiki on animals. [3] She stopped TV film appearances in 2017 until the reboot production for Ready or Not was announced as a teaser update on Billard's Instagram account on 28 May 2020. Billard is openly lesbian and has supported local LGBTQ+2 events in Ontario for many years. Her Ready or Not tomboy character "Busy Ramone" is often referred to as a Canadian LGBTQ/lesbian icon, despite being written in the series as heterosexual.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

Film and television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1992F.R.O.G.HerselfSeries
1993–1997 Ready or Not Elizabeth "Busy" Ramone65 episodes
1996Sins of SilenceGirl (uncredited)TV movie
2003 Owning Mahowny Tori, The TellerFilm
2010BondsAmyShort film
2011Deep TissueHerselfTV movie
2012Stories We Tell Susy Buchan(Documentary)
2013Let's RapKids TV Exec(Short)
2017Saving HopeSiobhan; episode: "Dr. Robot"TV series
2020Ready or Not Reboot [4] Elizabeth "Busy" Ramone [5] (TBA)

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References

  1. Mendoza, N. F. (9 April 1995). "With An Eye On...: Sometimes the 'Ready or Not' girls leave all that angst behind—and just go shopping". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  2. Pasternak, Sean B. (July 1995). "Ready or Not, Lani Billard Has Arrived". Thornhill Times. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  3. "Healing Animals with Reiki". www.beverleygolden.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  4. Ready or Not Reboot
  5. Busy Ramone