RaeAnne Boon is a name you’re likely to hear a lot more of in the coming years. This Leo Award-nominated Canadian actress has already made a significant impact on the entertainment landscape with her performances in popular series like Paramount+/Netflix’s School Spirits, Netflix’s Firefly Lane, and FX/Hulu’s A Teacher. From portraying the fan-favorite Dawn in School Spirits to navigating complex storylines in other projects, RaeAnne has demonstrated a remarkable range and dedication to her craft.
In this exclusive interview, we delve into RaeAnne Boon’s journey as an actress, exploring the influences that shaped her career path, the challenges and rewards of working on diverse productions, and the insights she gained from collaborating with talented casts and crews. From sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the sets of Firefly Lane and A Teacher to discussing the unique audition process for her role in School Spirits, RaeAnne offers a candid and engaging look into her experiences in the entertainment industry. She also shares exciting news about her recent work on season 6 of Virgin River and offers a heartfelt message to her dedicated fans.
Could you elaborate on the factors that inspired you to pursue a career in acting?
Growing up, I loved performing. I would always put on shows with my sister, Aiden, for our parents and their friends. I also would take part in the school plays, community theatre projects, and various short films- I was obsessed. Which is so funny because I was a really shy kid. But when I was acting and performing, I always had all the confidence in the world. It just ignited my soul, and I always knew I was meant to be an actress-there is nothing else that I could ever see myself doing.
We’re very interested in hearing about your experiences working on both Firefly Lane and A Teacher. Could you share some insights into your time on these sets?
Well, A Teacher was actually my very first network job! So I was very nervous, but I actually was able to film the project in Calgary, which is near my hometown. It was very sweet that my dad was able to drive me to set and get to see all the trailers at the circus for the first time. Sharing that experience with him is one of my favourite memories of that show.
Firefly Lane was an awesome experience. I was actually a fan of the show from its first season, so getting the opportunity to jump into season two in such a pivotal storyline was amazing. I learned so much from Ali while we were filming, and she and Roan both welcomed me to the show with open arms! Typically, when you are on set, the camera and crew are right in front of you, but for the bathroom scene between Nancy and Tully, we actually used a two-way mirror with the camera behind it. So we could only see ourselves in the reflection, and it really felt like we were living the scene for real with just the two of us in the room.
What were some of the challenges and rewards of working on projects with such different tones and themes?
While I’ve worked on projects that are both comedies and dramas, I really believe that all projects live in the same space. I try to bring comedic moments to all my drama work; otherwise, it becomes too heavy. I always try to bring drama to my comedy so it’s grounded in reality, and when you play a comedic scenario extremely seriously, that’s what makes it funny. I think one of my strengths as an actor is being able to marry the two styles.
You play the role of Dawn in School Spirits. Can you share how you landed the part? What was the audition process like, and how did you feel when you found out you got the role?
Getting to be Dawn really felt fated for me. My first audition was just the first scene from the pilot. I was about to go on a trip that morning when I found out I got the audition. So I pushed back my trip and taped my audition at like 7 am, sent it in and then left. While I was away, I found out I was in the running for the role. When I was traveling home from the trip, I got a callback for the part. So I quickly learned another scene from the show and did my Zoom callback the following day with all the writers and executives. I collaborated with Max on her energy and her mannerisms, and together we found this perfect blend that makes Dawn such a unique and memorable character. I didn’t hear that I got the role until about a week later, but I kinda had a feeling that the part was mine as soon as we hung up the Zoom call. My best friend Morgana coached me and read with me in my callback. I remember her saying to me, “I can’t believe I got to see the moment your life just changed.” And that’s really exactly how I felt when I found out I got the role.
Were there any particularly memorable moments or relationships that developed during filming?
Absolutely! I have so many incredible memories with each of the cast members, but one that jumps out to me the most is the friendship I built with Peyton List. I feel like Peyton and I’s friendship really mirrored Dawn and Maddie’s. She always looked out for me and made me feel like I was part of the group. The majority of my scenes were with her, and I really admire her as an actor. Her work ethic is unmatched, and just watching her process was so eye-opening for me. Not only is she an extremely talented actor, but she’s also an amazing person. She really set the tone for School Spirits to be such a fantastic work environment.
What specific skills or insights did you gain from your experience working on School Spirits?
School Spirits was my first show where we changed directors throughout the episodes. So working on a character and keeping her constant throughout the show while also collaborating with each director and their vision of her was such a cool experience! Each director had such a unique take on the show, and I loved to see how Dawn developed and changed throughout the season through the guidance of each director!
Beyond the upcoming second season of School Spirits, are there any other projects you’re currently involved in or are looking forward to in the near future? Can you give us any hints about what’s next for you?
Ooooo I can finally talk about this one! I got the privilege of working on season 6 of Virgin River, which just premiered on Netflix! I got the opportunity to play the young version of Nicola Cavendish’s iconic character, Connie. Blending the character that she created over the last 5 seasons through studying her voice and facial expressions, as well as bringing my own uniqueness to the role, was such a cool challenge as an actor, especially because Connie is so different from myself and any other character I’ve ever played before!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our audience, or perhaps a message you’d like to send to your fans who have supported you throughout your career?
Thank you so much to the fans. You guys are everything to me. I love reading all your messages and comments about the show. Whether you’ve just discovered School Spirits, or if you’ve been a fan since my College Girls days, Thank you. I get to do this work because of you.
And to all the fans that have told me that I’ve inspired them to pursue their own acting career- I believe in you and I can’t wait to see YOU on screen. You have a fan in me forever!
