Janet Varney
Janet Varney | |
---|---|
![]() Varney at the Comic Media Expo in October 2014 | |
Born |
Janet Maureen Varney February 16, 1976 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Education | Theater major |
Alma mater | San Francisco State University |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2003–present |
Website |
janetvarney |
Janet Maureen Varney (born February 16, 1976) is an American actress best known for hosting TBS's Dinner and a Movie and as the voice of Korra in The Legend of Korra.
Early life
Varney 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. She later pursued a career in interior design before eventually finding her way back into acting.[3] Varney was raised Mormon, but left the church at 17 and now identifies as an agnostic.[4] Varney is of English and Scottish descent.[5][2]
Career
Television projects
Varney was co-host of The Hollywood Show with Brian Unger, a recurring player on Norm Macdonald's sketch show Back to Norm and an ensemble player on Crossballs, all for Comedy Central. She also starred in the short-lived FOX comedy Happy Hour. In 2007, Varney appeared in the short films Random Acts of Kindness, Die Hardly Working, Eternal Waters, Worldly Possession, The Losers, Keep Off Grass, and Dress For Success which were made during the reality show On the Lot. She has recently appeared as recurring character "Bev" for the web series Back on Topps with Randy and Jason Sklar. Starting in 2008, she began starring in the HBO television series Entourage, playing television producer Amy Miller who works alongside Eric and Charlie. Varney was also cast in a movie called Best Player, starring opposite Jerry Trainor and Jennette McCurdy.
Dinner and a Movie
In 2005, Varney replaced Lisa Kushell as the hostess of the TBS cooking and entertainment show, Dinner and a Movie. She appeared alongside host Paul Gilmartin and chef Claud Mann in each episode introducing movies and injecting humor during the preparation of a creative dinner to go with some theme of the movie until the series' cancellation in 2011.
Rifftrax
Varney 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 being officially sanctioned by Rifftrax founder and Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumnus, Michael J. Nelson.
She has performed in Rifftrax commentaries for the following films:
Other professional projects
Varney 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 performed with the Los Angeles and San Francisco-based group Sequel 4000. In March 2012, she launched a podcast entitled The JV Club, hosted on Nerdist.com.[6]
Personal life
She was in a relationship with comedian Chris Hardwick from 2004 to 2011.[7]
In young adulthood, Varney was diagnosed with depersonalization disorder.[8]
Filmography
![](../I/m/Janet_Varney_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg)
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Stuck | Jane | |
2004 | Crossballs: The Debate Show | Additional Characters | |
2004 | Catwoman | Party Girl | |
2007 | Humble Pie | Joleen | |
2007 | Dante's Inferno | Cleopatra / Various (voice) | |
2008 | Bill | Amelia | Short |
2009 | Still Waiting... | Haley | Video |
2010 | Nic & Tristan Go Mega Dega | Sylvia Fishtickle - Mom | |
2011 | Selling, TheThe Selling | Mary Best | |
2011 | Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer | Mom | |
2014 | Present Tense | Cynthia | Short |
2016 | Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse | Shana | |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Back to Norm | Christine MacDonald | Movie |
2006 | Free Ride | Megan | Episode: "Up the Aunty" |
2006 | Love, Inc. | Glenda | Episode: "Full House" |
2006 | Happy Hour | Molly | Episode: "The Mix CD" |
2006 | What About Brian | Carol | Episode: "What About First Steps" |
2007 | Home Purchasing Club | Debbie Driscoll | Series |
2007 | Untitled Rob Roy Thomas Project, TheThe Untitled Rob Roy Thomas Project | Ellie Tennant | Movie |
2007 | Halfway Hot | Kimberly Costas | Episodes: "Halfway Hot", "Halfway High School" |
2007 | Die Hardly Working | Heroine | Movie |
2007 | Eternal Waters | Lead | Short |
2007 | Relic: Guardians of the Museum | Luna the moon goddess | game show |
2007 | How I Met Your Mother | Stacey Gusar | Episode: "Little Boys" |
2007 | Weekend, TheThe Weekend | Madelaine | Movie |
2008 | Chocolate News | Trina Johns | Episodes: "1.3", "1.7" |
2008 | Man Stroke Woman | Various | Movie |
2008, 2014 | Psych | Mindy Howland / Connie Camp | Episodes: "Murder?... Anyone?... Anyone?... Bueller?", "Remake A.K.A. Cloudy... With a Chance of Improvement" |
2008–09 | Back on Topps | Bev Cleary | Series |
2008–09 | Entourage | Amy Miller | Episodes: "Redomption", "Seth Green Day", "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car" |
2009 | Memory Lanes | Tracy Morris | Movie |
2009 | Bones | Maureen Perot | Episode: "The Bones That Foam" |
2007 | Grossology | Alice Jenkins | all episodes |
2009 | Better Off Ted | Lawyer | Episode: "Trust and Consequence" |
2009 | Married Not Dead | Susan | Movie |
2011 | Hot in Cleveland | Ellen | Episode: "Bad Bromance" |
2011 | Best Player | Tracy Saunders | Movie |
2012 | Game, TheThe Game | Summer Grayson | Episodes: "Drink, Pray, Love", "Party in a Box" |
2012 | Sullivan & Son | Kim Elliot | Episode: "The Bar Birthday" |
2012 | Childrens Hospital | Stacy | Episode: "Ladies Night" |
2012 | Neil's Puppet Dreams | Patron | Episode: "The Restaurant" |
2012–14 | Exes, TheThe Exes | Lorna | Episodes: "Shall We Dance", "Friends without Benefits" |
2012–13 | Burning Love | Carly | Regular role (20 episodes) |
2012–14 | Legend of Korra, TheThe Legend of Korra | Korra (voice) | Main role |
2013 | MyMusic | Nancy Spackman | Episodes: "Sleep Working?!","I Can't See!!!" |
2013–14 | Kroll Show | Wife / Mrs. Wilson / Jessica | Episodes: "Secret Room", "Sponsored by Stamps" |
2014 | Warehouse 13 | Elise | Episode: "Secret Services" |
2014 | Maron | Delphine | Episode: "Therapy" |
2014–present | You're the Worst | Becca Barbara | Recurring role (16 episodes) |
2014 | Sanjay and Craig | Bernice / Yoga Instructor (voice) | Episode: "Ting/Farkwerk" |
2015 | Shameless | Park Mom | Episode: "Rite of Passage" |
2015 | Other Space | Host | Episode: "Getting to Know You" |
2016 | Take My Wife | Melina Marquez | 3 episodes |
2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Movie Trailer Wife | Episode: "Kaley Cuoco Wears a Black Blazer and Slip on Sneakers" |
2016 | Stan Against Evil | Evie Barret | |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | The Legend of Korra | Korra | Main role (Voice) |
References
- ↑ http://tucson.com/news/local/justice-keeps-listeners-posted-on-heart-surgery/article_984c83a3-d9cb-597a-bb88-868593ef06db.html
- 1 2 The JV Club #153: Felicia Day http://nerdist.com/the-jv-club-153-felicia-day/
- ↑ Conversations With Ross: Featuring Janet Varney http://www.rosscarey.com/2012/08/22/episode-69-janet-varney/
- ↑ The JV Club #29: Cara Santa Maria http://nerdist.com/the-jv-club-29-cara-santa-maria/
- ↑ "Varney Family History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ↑ "The JV Club". Nerdist. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ↑ "Chris Hardwick: Nerdism For Fun and Profit". Gothamist. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ↑ The Mental Illness Happy Hour Episode 1: Janet Varney http://mentalpod.com/podcast-janet-varney
External links
- Janet Varney at the Internet Movie Database
- Dinner and a Movie website on tbs.com
- Back on Topps website
- Rifftrax Presents website at Rifftrax.com
- Podcast Interview on The Gentlemen's Club with Caleb Bacon