| Lani Billard | |
| Birth Date: | 1979 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Known For: | Ready or Not |
| Alma Mater: | Unionville High School |
| Occupation: | Actress, Singer, Drummer |
| Years Active: | 1992-present |
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.
Billard was raised Jewish[1] and attended Unionville High School[2] 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.
When not performing, Billard practices reiki on nonhuman 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.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | F.R.O.G. | Herself | Series |
| 1993–1997 | Ready or Not | Elizabeth "Busy" Ramone | 65 episodes |
| 1996 | Sins of Silence | Girl (uncredited) | TV movie |
| 2003 | Owning Mahowny | Tori, The Teller | Film |
| 2010 | Bonds | Amy | Short film |
| 2011 | Deep Tissue | Herself | TV movie |
| 2012 | Stories We Tell | Susy Buchan | (Documentary) |
| 2013 | Let's Rap | Kids TV Exec | (Short) |
| 2017 | Saving Hope | Siobhan; episode: "Dr. Robot" | TV series |
| 2020 | Ready or Not Reboot[4] | Elizabeth "Busy" Ramone[5] | (TBA) |