RAINBOW WEDELL: THE DISCIPLINE OF BECOMING
The School Spirits actress reflects on discipline, identity, and staying grounded as her life and career continue to expand.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH KRICK STYLE BY ORETTA CORBELLI
MAKEUP BY KIMORA MULAN
“I’M DRIVEN TO WORK HARD AND CHASE MY GOALS, BUT ALWAYS WITH THE INTENTION OF CONTRIBUTING TO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN MYSELF.”
RAINBOW WEDELL, ACTRESS
Home-schooled for much of her early education and entering university at sixteen, Wedell developed discipline long before visibility entered the picture. Acting was not something she had mapped out for herself, though audiences may recognize her from School Spirits, alongside earlier roles in The Wilds and The Bureau of Magical Things, as her career continues to unfold. It came gradually, first through time spent observing on set and then through a growing curiosity about what it meant to step inside a character. What stayed with her was not the spotlight, but the subtle work beneath it, how emotion shifts in the smallest gestures, how contradiction can live in a single line of dialogue without being resolved.
In School Spirits, that sensitivity becomes visible. Claire moves through heightened circumstances, but Wedell does not overstate her. She watches. She listens. She lets silence carry weight when it needs to. Even as the series expands in audience and scope, her presence remains grounded. There is no sense of rushing toward impact. The performance builds quietly, moment by moment.
That same steadiness shows up beyond the screen. Wedell has spoken about mental health not as a trend, but as something that requires ongoing attention, particularly in industries that can accelerate young careers before there is space to process them. She seems aware of how easily momentum can outpace self-definition. In her view, resilience is not about absorbing pressure indefinitely. It’s about recognizing when support is needed and intentionally building it before the cracks appear.
Off set, her creative life continues to move in deliberate directions. She reworks and designs clothing herself, drawn to the tactile patience of shaping something over time. Physical movement plays a similar role. Whether through Pilates, boxing, or time outdoors, the goal is not display but recalibration. These practices are less about image and more about orientation, small, intentional ways of staying connected to the body and to the present moment.
What follows is not a spotlight moment, but a thoughtful exchange about identity, growth, and building a life that feels aligned from within.
“This industry can be scary, so protecting my mind and my heart is really important to me. I try to stay offline and off my phone as much as possible, and surround myself with good people. My family and my found family are what keep me grounded as everything expands.”
School Spirits unfolds in a world where nothing feels entirely stable. When you’re stepping into uncertainty on screen, what helps you stay anchored within yourself?
Honestly, my co-stars anchor me the most. We have such an incredible cast and crew on this show; they’ve truly become my family. Their support keeps me grounded, no matter how uncertain things feel on screen.
You grew up moving between cultures and communities. Where do you feel most rooted these days?
I’ve moved around so much that I’ve realized it’s not really about a place for me, it’s about my people. Wherever they are, that’s where I feel most rooted.
Your early life was shaped by service and contribution. How did that foundation influence the way you relate to ambition?
My upbringing has definitely shaped the way I see ambition. It’s never just been about personal success for me; it’s about creating a positive impact where I can. I’m driven to work hard and chase my goals, but always with the intention of contributing to something bigger than myself. That’s why I love making art; it makes people feel seen and heard. And it’s something everyone can enjoy.
Acting wasn’t originally the plan. When your life shifted direction, how did you know it was right?
I fell in love with acting the first time I stepped onto a set. I did take a step back to go to college, but there was always something pulling me back to it. I couldn’t ignore that feeling, and that’s how I knew it was right.
Visibility can arrive quickly in this industry. What feels important to protect as your world expands?
This industry can be scary, so protecting my mind and my heart is really important to me. I try to stay offline and off my phone as much as possible, and surround myself with good people. My family and my found family are what keep me grounded as everything expands.
You’ve spoken thoughtfully about mental health. What does caring for your inner life look like when work becomes demanding?
Mental health is really important to me, especially when work gets demanding. I try to surround myself with art that brings me joy, and I love creating too. Sewing is a big outlet for me. I’m also working on breaking the habit of doom scrolling and reminding myself to stay present and actually live in the moment.
When you’re not acting, you’re often creating, sewing, thrifting, and designing. What do you enjoy about that slower, hands-on kind of work?
I really love how grounding it is. Sewing and designing slows me down and lets me be fully present. There’s something really special about giving new life to pieces through thrifting and designing something that fits me exactly how I want. It feels personal and really fulfilling.
You divide your time between cities. What does “home” mean to you now?
Home is many places to me. It’s where my people are, and I feel really lucky to have found family all over the world. So home is wherever I’m surrounded by people I love.
As you continue to grow professionally, what feels non-negotiable in the life you’re building?
Honestly, as long as I’m happy and always growing and learning. That’s my non-negotiables.
When you think about the woman you’re becoming, what matters more to you, being seen or being aligned?
Being aligned, always. What matters most to me is staying true to who I am and how I move through the world. I always want to trust my instincts fully and have other strong women by my side.
What has this season of your life been teaching you about yourself?
This season of my life is teaching me to slow down and be present. I can be impatient and feel like I always need to be doing something, but life moves fast, and I’m learning how important it is to enjoy every moment.
When you imagine the next chapter, what feels most important to carry forward?
I want to keep growing. Pushing myself outside my comfort zone, living every moment fully, and allowing myself to feel everything as it comes.
