Janet Varney

Janet Varney

Varney at the Comic Media Expo
in October 2014
Born Janet Maureen Varney
(1976-02-16) 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.com

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][6]

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.[7]

Personal life

She was in a relationship with comedian Chris Hardwick from 2004 to 2011.[8]

In young adulthood, Varney was diagnosed with depersonalization disorder.[9]

Filmography

Varney at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International

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 The Selling Mary Best
2011 Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer Mom
2014 Present Tense Cynthia Short
2016 Norm of the North Janet Voice

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Back to Norm Christine MacDonald Television film
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 The Untitled Rob Roy Thomas Project Ellie Tennant Television film
2007 Halfway Hot Kimberly Costas 2 episodes
2007 Die Hardly Working Heroine Television film
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 The Weekend Madelaine Television film
2008 Chocolate News Trina Johns 2 episodes
2008 Man Stroke Woman Various Television film
2008, 2014 Psych Mindy Howland / Connie Camp 2 episodes
2008–2009 Back on Topps Bev Cleary Series
2008–2009 Entourage Amy Miller Episodes: "Redomption", "Seth Green Day", "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car"
2009 Memory Lanes Tracy Morris Television film
2009 Bones Maureen Perot Episode: "The Bones That Foam"
2009 Better Off Ted Lawyer Episode: "Trust and Consequence"
2009 Married Not Dead Susan Television film
2011 Hot in Cleveland Ellen Episode: "Bad Bromance"
2011 Best Player Tracy Saunders Television film
2012 The Game Summer Grayson 2 episodes
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"
2012–2014 The Exes Lorna 2 episodes
2012–2013 Burning Love Carly 20 episodes
2012–2014 The Legend of Korra Korra (voice) 52 episodes
2013 MyMusic Nancy Spackman Episodes: "Sleep Working?!","I Can't See!!!"
2013–2014 Kroll Show Wife / Mrs. Wilson / Jessica 2 episodes
2014 Warehouse 13 Elise Episode: "Secret Services"
2014 Maron Delphine Episode: "Therapy"
2014–2015 You're the Worst Becca Barbara 12 episodes
2014 Sanjay and Craig Bernice / Yoga Instructor (voices) Episode: "Ting/Farkwerk"
2015 Shameless Park Mom Episode: "Rite of Passage"
2015 Other Space Host Episode: "Getting to Know You"
Video games
Year Title Voice role
2014 The Legend of Korra Korra

References

  1. ↑ http://tucson.com/news/local/justice-keeps-listeners-posted-on-heart-surgery/article_984c83a3-d9cb-597a-bb88-868593ef06db.html
  2. ↑ The JV Club #153: Felicia Day http://nerdist.com/the-jv-club-153-felicia-day/
  3. ↑ Conversations With Ross: Featuring Janet Varney http://www.rosscarey.com/2012/08/22/episode-69-janet-varney/
  4. ↑ The JV Club #29: Cara Santa Maria http://nerdist.com/the-jv-club-29-cara-santa-maria/
  5. ↑ "Varney Family History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ The JV Club #153: Felicia Day http://nerdist.com/the-jv-club-153-felicia-day/
  7. ↑ "The JV Club". Nerdist. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Chris Hardwick: Nerdism For Fun and Profit". Gothamist. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  9. ↑ The Mental Illness Happy Hour Episode 1: Janet Varney http://mentalpod.com/podcast-janet-varney

External links

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