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
The lists are divided by Canadian language:
*List of English-language Canadian television series
*List of French-language Canadian television series
See also
*List of Canadian animated television series
The following is a list of animated telev ...
''
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
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.
Billard was raised
Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
and attended
Unionville High School in Markham, Ontario, where she graduated in 1997.
Billard has since become a vocalist, singing independently and collaborating with Canadian acts such as iLL Vibe, L.S, & Grossman. 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. Lani is professionally trained to play drums and percussion. She has a three-octave singing range.
Personal life
When not performing, Billard practices
reiki
Reiki is a pseudoscientific form of energy healing, a type of alternative medicine originating in Japan. Reiki practitioners use a technique called ''palm healing'' or ''hands-on healing'' through which, according to practitioners, a " unive ...
on nonhuman animals.
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.
Filmography
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Billard, Lani
1979 births
Jewish Canadian actresses
Canadian television actresses
Living people
Place of birth missing (living people)
Canadian lesbian actresses
Canadian film actresses
21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people
Jewish LGBTQ women