What about the most fun you guys have had on the show?
Cristine: We just shot prom and graduation, and that was amazing.
Did it feel like an actual graduation?
Annie: Yes.
Cristine: We’re all like, bonding, and dancing in the back.
Annie: It’s better than actual graduation. Way better. [laughter]
Did you watch Degrassi before you were on it?
Cristine: I think every Canadian teenager watches Degrassi.
Annie: I have every season on DVD.
Cristine: You should see us in read-throughs. We’re like fans.
Annie: Iain [the show's publicist] has sometimes come to me for Degrassi trivia. He’ll be like, “Annie, what season did this happen in?”
Who were your favorite characters in the show before you came on?
Annie: Craig and Ellie.
Cristine: I love Jimmy, but I also just love Drake. So it’s probably because of that.
Have you met him?
Cristine: No. Soon, though! It’s in the cards.
Annie: But we’re going to see Jake Epstein, who played Craig, in Spider-Man [on Broadway] on Sunday.
Linda: He’s going to take us backstage. He’s so excited we’re coming.
Annie: I’m so excited. I’m going to be so starstruck. I’ve met him before, but I’m just always so nervous any time I talk to him.
Do you guys feel ready to leave the show?
Annie: I never feel ready.
Cristine: Obviously we’re going to stay friends, but it’s just sad that we’re not going to be working together every day.
Annie: It’s such a family. It’s going to be hard not being there all the time — but that being said, they’re always so open for us to come back and visit whenever we want.
Do you hope your characters will reappear someday?
Annie: I definitely wouldn’t turn it down, but I really like how Fiona’s wrapped up.
Cristine: But you never know!
Any hints about what we can look forward to in the finale?
Cristine: Well, a lot of drama. [laughter] Like, a lot of yelling.
Annie: We fight, yeah. Which is cool, because you always just see them all happy.
Cristine: It was fun to shoot, too. It was the last episode we were shooting in the season, so we were actually emotional. We were screaming at each other. The director’s like, “Okay, take it back a bit. Maybe not so much crying.”
Where do you see your characters five years from now?
Annie: I could see Fiona in Europe or somewhere fancy and extravagant, probably working in fashion — in design, or working on the business side. I think she could take her student council knowledge and bring that to the business world.
Cristine: I think Imogen’s more of a homebody, so I can see her being in Toronto still. Maybe [as] an architect of some sort — she loves art and drawing.
Annie: Maybe trips to Europe to visit Fiona.
Are there any storylines you wish you could have been a part of while you were on the show?
Annie: When Fiona was always causing trouble and being drunk, [she] missed out on a lot of dances. Everyone’s having fun dressing up, and Fiona would always be passed out somewhere.
Cristine: I guess with Imogen, exploring new friends — I’ve only had real interactions with Eli and Fiona. Her also being in a band is great, meeting new friends there. I got to learn how to play the drums, which was amazing.
Do characters who play instruments on the show usually play them in real life?
Linda: It depends. Sometimes we are aware that they have special talents, and if they do, we try to utilize them. But sometimes, the writers would say, “Oh, it would be really great if we could put these characters together for a band.”
Cristine: Yeah, I remember looking [at the script]: “And Imogen plays drums.” I’m like, “What?”
What are some other talents you’ve written in?
Linda: Well, we actually did have Drake rapping. That was way back!
Annie: He stole Ashley’s song!
Linda: Certainly Olivia [Scriven] with the cello.
Stephen: Jessica [Tyler]‘s a real singer. She’s got an album that’s being produced by Nelly Furtado’s husband.
Annie: I was a cheerleader in a mini once. I was on the spirit squad for one day. Thank God it was only a day.
Do you think anyone on the show now will be the next Fiona, or the next Imogen?
Annie: Maybe ones coming up in season 13. I don’t know — I don’t know if anybody could replace Fiona.
Cristine: The younger characters, they rock. Their storylines are amazing. Olivia is a rock star — her episode coming up, I think she did fantastic in it.
Annie: It’ll be really interesting to see where her character goes.
Cristine: And also how they grow. It’s just exciting for us as fans to watch.
So you’ll keep watching the show?
Cristine: Um, yeah!
Annie: I’ll keep watching it ’til I’m 80.
Read more:
TV Jukebox: ‘Degrassi,’ ‘Dallas,’ ‘The Following,’ and more music-on-TV moments
‘Degrassi’ react: What happened in Vegas
R.I.P., ‘The L.A. Complex’: Why this finely crafted, little-watched soap deserved better
