Janet Varney (born February 16, 1976) is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer. She is known for voicing the character of Korra in the Nickelodeon animated television series The Legend of Korra, co-starring as Sheriff Evie Barret in the television series Stan Against Evil, and a recurring role as Becca Barbara in You're the Worst.
Janet Varney | |
|---|---|
Varney at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2024 | |
| Born | February 16, 1976 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Alma mater | San Francisco State University (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Website | janetvarney |
Varney has hosted The JV Club podcast since 2012 and is also the co-host of the Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast along with Dante Basco. She is the co-founder, creative director and producer of the long-running comedy festival SF Sketchfest in San Francisco.
Early life
editVarney was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She graduated as salutatorian from Rincon High School in 1993[1][2] and is an alumna of San Francisco State University, where she majored in theater, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1997.[3] She later pursued a career in interior design before eventually finding her way back into acting.[4] Varney was raised Mormon, but left the church at 17 and began to identify as an agnostic.[5] Varney is of English and Scottish descent.[6][2]
Career
editTelevision projects
editVarney made her television debut in 2004 as a guest on the Comedy Central debate show Crossballs. She has appeared as a guest star in series including Bones, Better Off Ted, How I Met Your Mother, Hot in Cleveland, and Psych. Varney has had recurring roles on the shows Entourage (HBO), Burning Love (Yahoo! Screen), Country Comfort (Netflix), You're the Worst (FX), and Take My Wife (Seeso).
In 2012, she co-created Neil's Puppet Dreams with Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka. That same year, Varney also began her role voicing the main character of Korra on the Nickelodeon animated series The Legend of Korra, a spin-off of the series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Varney voiced the character of Korra for all four seasons of the show, which ended in 2014. After a decade of voicing Korra in both the series and several video games, Varney later stepped down from the role with her final outing as the character being in Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway in 2022.[7]
In 2016, Varney was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role on Everyone's Crazy But Us, a web series produced on Funny or Die.[8]
Varney was a main cast member on IFC's Stan Against Evil, playing Sheriff Evie Barret. The show ran for three seasons from 2016 to 2018.[9] She was also the host of ESCAPE!,[10] a web series broadcast on Geek & Sundry where teams of celebrities work together to get out of an escape room.[11] The show ran for one season in 2017.
In 2018 Varney created, produced and starred in Fortune Rookie, an 8-episode web series presented by IFC.[12]
Dinner and a Movie
editIn 2005, Varney replaced Lisa Kushell as the host of the TBS cooking and entertainment show Dinner and a Movie. She appeared with Paul Gilmartin and Claud Mann in each episode, introducing films and injecting humor during the preparation of a creative dinner for some themes. The series was cancelled in 2011.
RiffTrax
editVarney has written and performed several comedic audio commentaries for films along with fellow SF Sketchfest co-founder Cole Stratton. These appear on the RiffTrax website under the RiffTrax Presents branding, as they are officially sanctioned by RiffTrax founder and Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumnus Michael J. Nelson.
She has performed in Rifftrax commentaries for the following films:
- Footloose
- Poltergeist
- Ghost
- Dirty Dancing
- Jaws 3-D
- Flatliners
- The Lost Boys
- Dreamscape
- Batman vs Superman
Podcasts
editIn March 2012, Varney launched a podcast titled The JV Club, hosted on Nerdist.com[13] from 2012 to 2018. In November 2018, it was announced that The JV Club would be moving to the Maximum Fun network.[14] The podcast released its 500th episode in Jan 2023.[15]
Varney has participated on a regular basis on the improv comedy podcast Spontaneanation with Paul F. Tompkins, where she is referred to as "Little Janet" Varney. She is also one of the core cast members of the improvised SciFi podcast Voyage to the Stars,[16] and the podcast Thrilling Adventure Hour.[17]
Avatar: Braving the Elements, an official Nickelodeon companion podcast to Avatar: The Last Airbender, premiered on June 22, 2021, hosted by Varney (the voice of Korra) and Dante Basco (the voice of Zuko). Varney and Basco discuss key moments and behind-the scenes information from each episode.[18]
She has appeared on the podcast Hello from the Magic Tavern as the character Braidwynn the Warrior Elf, who disguises herself as Crone Bakeress. She is also a frequent guest on the puzzle, riddle and lateral thinking podcast Hey Riddle Riddle.
Since 2022, Varney has voiced the character of Janet Lubelle on Welcome to Night Vale.
Other professional projects
editVarney is the co-founder, creative director and producer of SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival, and is also the co-founder of the San Francisco sketch group Totally False People. She is a core member of the Los Angeles based improv group Theme Park Improv.[19] She performed with the Los Angeles and San Francisco-based group Sequel 4000.
Personal life
editVarney dated comedian Chris Hardwick from 2004 to 2011.[20][21][22] In 2018, Varney came out as bisexual.[23] In young adulthood, Varney was diagnosed with depersonalization disorder.[24]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Stuck | Jane | |
| 2004 | Catwoman | Party Girl | |
| 2007 | Humble Pie | Joleen | |
| Dante's Inferno | Cleopatra / Dis Intercom / Teacher / Ulysses' Usher | Voice | |
| 2008 | Bill | Amelia | Short film |
| Drilbit Taylor | Attractive Blonde Woman | ||
| 2009 | Still Waiting... | Haley | Direct-to-video |
| 2010 | Nic & Tristan Go Mega Dega | Sylvia Fishtickle - Mom | |
| 2011 | The Selling | Mary Best | |
| Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer | Mrs. Kate Moody | ||
| 2014 | Present Tense | Cynthia | Short film |
| 2016 | Norm of the North | Janet | Voice |
| Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse | Shana | ||
| 2021 | See You Next Christmas | Lenora | |
| Injustice | Wonder Woman / Diana Prince[25] | Voice | |
| 2023 | Urkel Saves Santa: the Movie | Old Lady Buechler, Amber, and Woman |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Crossballs: The Debate Show | Additional Characters | Unknown episodes |
| 2005 | Back to Norm | Christine MacDonald | Television film |
| 2006 | Free Ride | Megan | Episode: "Up the Aunty" |
| Love, Inc. | Glenda | Episode: "Full House" | |
| Happy Hour | Molly | Episode: "The Mix CD" | |
| What About Brian | Carol | Episode: "What About First Steps" | |
| 2007 | Home Purchasing Club | Debbie Driscoll | Unknown episodes |
| The Untitled Rob Roy Thomas Project | Ellie Tennant | Television film | |
| Halfway Home | Kimberly Costas | 2 episodes | |
| Die Hardly Working | Heroine | Television film | |
| Eternal Waters | Lead | ||
| How I Met Your Mother | Stacey Gusar | Episode: "Little Boys" | |
| The Weekend | Madelaine | Television film | |
| 2008 | Chocolate News | Trina Johns | 2 episodes |
| Man Stroke Woman | Various | Television film | |
| 2008, 2014 | Psych | Mindy Howland / Connie Camp | 2 episodes |
| 2008–09 | Back on Topps | Bev Cleary | Series Unknown episodes |
| Entourage | Amy Miller | 3 episodes | |
| 2009 | Memory Lanes | Tracy Morris | Television film |
| Bones | Maureen Perot | Episode: "The Bones That Foam" | |
| Better Off Ted | Lawyer | Episode: "Trust and Consequence" | |
| Married Not Dead | Susan | Television film | |
| 2011 | Hot in Cleveland | Ellen | Episode: "Bad Bromance" |
| Best Player | Tracy Saunders | Television film | |
| 2012 | The Game | Summer Grayson | 2 episodes |
| Sullivan & Son | Kim Elliot | Episode: "The Bar Birthday" | |
| Childrens Hospital | Stacy | Episode: "Ladies Night" | |
| Neil's Puppet Dreams | Patron | 3 episodes; Also co-creator, writer, and executive producer | |
| 2012–13 | Burning Love | Carly | Regular role (23 episodes) |
| Key & Peele | Campaign Advisor / White Woman #1 | 2 episodes | |
| 2012–14 | The Legend of Korra | Korra | Voice, main role (52 episodes) |
| The Exes | Lorna | 2 episodes | |
| 2013 | MyMusic | Nancy Spackman | 2 episodes |
| 2013–14 | Kroll Show | Wife / Mrs. Wilson / Jessica | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Warehouse 13 | Elise | Episode: "Secret Services" |
| Maron | Delphine | Episode: "Therapy" | |
| 2014–19 | You're the Worst | Becca Barbara | Recurring role (28 episodes) |
| 2014–16 | Sanjay and Craig | Various | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Shameless | Park Mom | Episode: "Rite of Passage" |
| Other Space | Host | Episode: "Getting to Know You" | |
| 2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Movie Trailer Wife | Episode: "Kaley Cuoco Wears a Black Blazer and Slip on Sneakers" |
| American Housewife | Jenn | Episode: "Power Couple" | |
| ESCAPE! | Host | Web series | |
| 2016–17 | Mutt & Stuff | Janine / Pilot | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2016–18 | Take My Wife | Melina Marquez | 5 episodes |
| Stan Against Evil | Evie Barret | Main role: 18 episodes | |
| 2017 | Adam Ruins Everything | Mandy | Episode: "Adam Ruins Weight Loss" |
| Hidden America with Jonah Ray | Leona | Episode: "Cleveland: Can't Win Them All" | |
| HarmonQuest | Sedona | Episode: "The Barely Cursed Bazaar of Commerce" | |
| 2018 | Bravest Warriors | Ambulance Driver | Voice, episode: "I Just Can't Cope Without My Soap" |
| 2020 | Dicktown | Tracey | Episode: "The Mystery of the Moaning Ghost" |
| The Loud House | Dr. Carol Linnaeus / Automated Voice | Voice, episode: "Blinded by Science" | |
| The George Lucas Talk Show | Self | 2 episodes | |
| 2021 | Country Comfort | Summer | 8 episodes |
| Bless the Harts | Voice, episode: "Betty's Birthday" | ||
| 2023-24 | The Legend of Vox Machina | Vilya | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Harley Quinn | Mera | Voice, episode: "A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special" |
| 2024 | Um, Actually | Herself | Season 9, Episode 12 |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Legend of Korra | Korra | |
| Smite | |||
| 2021 | Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl | Voiceover added in the June 2022 update | |
| 2022 | Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway | Final time voicing Korra |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | Everyone's Crazy But Us | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Villarreal, Phil (April 15, 2012). "Justice keeps listeners posted on heart surgery". Arizona Daily Star.
- ^ a b "The JV Club #153: Felicia Day". Nerdist. May 7, 2015. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ SF State Magazine (Fall 2008). "Funny Business". sfsu.edu. San Francisco State University. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ "Conversations With Ross: Featuring Janet Varney". rosscarey.com. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ "The JV Club #29: Cara Santa Maria". Nerdist. September 20, 2012. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ "Varney Family History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ "Janet Varney Won't Voice Avatar Korra Again". YouTube. June 30, 2022.
- ^ "Outstanding Actress In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series Nominees / Winners 2016". Television Academy.
- ^ Petski, Denise (January 28, 2019). "'Stan Against Evil' Canceled After Three Seasons On IFC". Deadline. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
- ^ "Escape! With Janet Varney". YouTube. February 8, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ Manuel, Rob (November 14, 2016). "Introducing ESCAPE! with Janet Varney". Geek & Sundry. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ "fortune-Janet Varney reads your palms in an absurdly fun web series". November 29, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ "The JV Club". Nerdist. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ "Special Announcement: The JV Club Joins Maximum Fun!". Soundcloud. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- ^ "Episode #500 Special featuring Stephen Jackson & Brandon R. Reynolds of Journos!". the jv club podcast with janet varney. January 26, 2023.
- ^ "Janet Varney on 'Voyage to the Stars' Season 2". November 25, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ "The Workjuice Players". Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Dar, Taimur (June 23, 2021). "INTERVIEW: Janet Varney and Dante Basco talk BRAVING THE ELEMENTS for the Last Airbender Podcast". Comics Beat. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ "Theme Park Improv". Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ "An Actress's Hollywood Hills Home Is the Embodiment of a Hug". Apartment Therapy. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Bacon, Caleb (June 30, 2009). "Chris Hardwick: Nerdism For Fun and Profit". LAist. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
- ^ D'Zurilla, Christie (June 26, 2018). "Janet Varney, Chris Hardwick's ex-girlfriend, says he never abused her". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
- ^ Varney, Janet (June 28, 2018). "Janet Varney on Instagram". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
I've been woefully lax in celebrating Pride this month on social media! So I'm ending this month listing 10 movies that made me feel less weird about my feelings for ladies as a young person. #pride
- ^ "Janet Varney". mentalpod.com. March 26, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ "DC's 'Injustice' Sets Cast for Animated Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. July 21, 2021.
External links
edit- Official Website
- Janet Varney at IMDb
- Dinner and a Movie website on tbs.com
- Rifftrax Presents website at Rifftrax.com
- Podcast Interview on The Gentlemen's Club with Caleb Bacon