Interview with RaeAnne Boon: From breakthrough roles to producing bold stories
Merkulova Photography
Canadian actress, director, and producer RaeAnne Boon is a rising star to keep an eye on in 2025. Known for her versatility both on and off-screen, she directed, produced, and starred in the 2023 short film Starring Katie Kane and co-produced the 2024 mystery film The Island Between Tides, with Donal Logue.
As an actress, RaeAnne has shined since her debut in 2015, earning a 2022 Leo Award nomination for her role in the web series College Girls. She has appeared in notable productions including FX/Hulu's A Teacher, the music video for Nickelback's San Quentin, and the hit Netflix series Firefly Lane.
However, her most notable recent role is as Dawn in Paramount+'s School Spirits, which has already completed a successful first season and promises much more for the second. In this supernatural series, RaeAnne plays a 1970s ghost whose journey to the end of the world resonates deeply with audiences. School Spirits earned a spot in Netflix's Top 10, and this, of course, reaffirmed RaeAnne's place within the industry. We talked to her about her career, future plans, and new projects, and this is what she said.
First of all, we want to know about your beginnings in the industry. What was your first approach to acting, and when did you decide you wanted to be an actress?
I first started acting on camera as a teenager. Actually, my first time ever in front of the camera was at my first agent’s office to audition for her to represent me. I started going out for small roles in local productions and did so many short films. Any chance I could get to be in front of the camera, I took.
What initially drew you to the role of Dawn in School Spirits?
I remember I was working a serving day job, and I had just gotten in trouble at work for “being in my own world” and having my “head in the clouds.” Within the week that I got written up, I had booked the role of Dawn and quit my job. So I think in a way the role had been drawn to me. I think that the role was just meant for me, because she is just me.
How did you prepare to bring Dawn's unique personality to life on screen?
I really focused on bringing her voice to life. Her voice and articulation are so different than mine, and finding this perfect vocal quality was really my input into creating the character. I also really worked on playing with her eyes. She rarely blinks and really takes this “starry-eyed” quality to the next level. So bringing these two different physical traits together into the character really brought her to life instantly. All of her energy lives in her head, and that’s how I was able to get this “airhead” quality to her without making her just plain dumb or stupid because she’s actually really intelligent, more than anyone knows.
Merkulova Photography
Do you have any favorite moment or scene to film in School Spirits Season 1?
I really loved the anti-seance scene. I remember getting the script and reading it for the first time. I was so excited that I was sitting in my car on the side of the road just crying as I read it. Bringing that scene to life was such a fun challenge as an actor, as it’s a few different scenes that we ran together as one massive scene when we were filming. That scene was definitely a highlight of my career thus far. I got to be everything in that scene: funny, heartbreaking, resentful, silly, broken, and optimistic.
As an actress, what’s been the most rewarding part and the obstacles of being part of the film industry?
As an actress, there are constant ups and downs. One day I feel amazing, the next I feel horrible. I mean, I feel like all actors can relate to how hard it is mentally. But the love of the work makes it all worth it to me. When the fans send me letters or messages telling me that they feel seen through Dawn means the world to me, and it’s so worth all the hardships and mental gymnastics. Telling these stories and portraying these characters that people connect to is something I will never stop doing.
With multiple projects in development as a producer, how do you choose stories you feel passionate about bringing to life?
I really love producing projects that are different. All my scripts that I have in development- nothing like them exists yet. I really love projects that bring something new to the world and to the industry. Completely new ideas, completely new concepts, and completely new stories. I’m really excited about these projects, and I can’t wait for the day they are ready to be shared with the world.
Is there any character you would like to play?
I love doing comedy, and I would really love the opportunity to go full in into a comedy show.
Kristine Cofsky
As an actress, could you give us your top 5 favorite movies?
Oh my goodness, that’s a hard one.
Bridesmaids
Super Bad
Twilight
The Place Beyond the Pines
Jurassic Park
What advice would you give to aspiring actors and producers who look up to your career path?
Just keep going. Good things take time.