Janet Varney

Janet Varney – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

: Explore the life and career of Janet Varney—American actress, comedian, voice artist, and podcaster. Dive into her early years, breakthroughs, philosophy, famous quotes, and lasting legacy.

Introduction

Janet Varney is a multifaceted American performer—an actress, comedian, writer, producer, and podcaster—born on February 16, 1976 (often cited as 1976) in Tucson, Arizona. Her most widely known role is lending her voice to Korra, the titular character in the acclaimed animated series The Legend of Korra. Beyond voice acting, she has appeared in live-action television, co-created influential projects, and built a devoted following through her podcasting work.

Varney’s journey illustrates resilience, adaptability, and creative courage. Her ability to shift between comedy, drama, voice work, and producing makes her a compelling figure in entertainment. In this article, you’ll learn about her early life, career milestones, philosophy, legacy, and some of her most memorable quotes.

Early Life and Family

Janet Varney was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona.

Janet attended Rincon High School in Tucson, graduating in 1993 as salutatorian.

Before fully committing to acting, Varney explored interior design as a career path. That detour likely provided her with perspective and skills that later benefited her creative and production roles.

Youth and Education

During her teenage years, Janet Varney navigated both religious and personal transformation—questioning a faith she had grown up with and eventually stepping away from it. This period of introspection would later influence her openness and voice in her work.

At San Francisco State University, she immersed herself in theater training, honing the foundational skills of acting, voice, and stage presence. Her college years also coincided with moves (geographically and personally) toward a life in performance.

After graduating, although her interest in interior design initially pulled her into another field, her passion for performance eventually won out, drawing her back to acting, writing, and creation.

Career and Achievements

Janet Varney’s career is marked by versatility—she has worked in live-action television, voice acting, comedy, podcasting, and production. Below is a breakdown of her key milestones and achievements.

Television & Film Roles

• Varney’s early television appearances included guest roles on How I Met Your Mother, Psych, Bones, Entourage, Chelsea Lately, and Key & Peele.

• She co-starred in Stan Against Evil as Sheriff Evie Barret, spanning multiple seasons.

• On You’re the Worst, she had a recurring role as “Becca Barbara.”

• In film, she appeared in Drillbit Taylor (2008), Still Waiting... (2009), Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011), Injustice (voice role), and Norm of the North (voice), among others.

Voice Acting & The Legend of Korra

Arguably Varney’s signature role is voicing Korra, the lead in The Legend of Korra, which aired from 2012 to 2014. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway in 2022.

Podcasting & Creative Production

• In March 2012, Varney launched The JV Club podcast, where she invites guests (often in entertainment) to discuss their teenage years.

• She is co-founder, creative director, and producer of SF Sketchfest (San Francisco Comedy Festival), a prominent comedy festival in the U.S.

• Varney also co-hosts Avatar: Braving the Elements, the official companion podcast for the Avatar universe, alongside Dante Basco.

• She has created, produced, and starred in web series such as Fortune Rookie (2018) presented by IFC.

Honors & Recognition

• In 2016, Varney was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for Everyone’s Crazy But Us.

• Her various roles across multiple formats (voice, series, production) have earned her respect and a devoted fan base.

Historical Milestones & Context

Varney’s trajectory intersects with broader shifts in entertainment:

• The rise of strong female protagonists in animation: The Legend of Korra represented a significant step in diversifying animation by centering a female lead in an action/fantasy setting, expanding representation for gender and heroism.

• Podcasting platforms as creative outlets: Varney harnessed podcasting early, turning personal narrative into content, and helping pioneer how performers connect with audiences beyond visual media.

• Comedy festivals growing as incubators: With SF Sketchfest, Varney participated in the growth of live comedy circuits becoming major circuits beyond just stand-up clubs—blending improv, sketches, guest shows, and digital presence.

Legacy and Influence

Janet Varney’s legacy is multifold:

1. Voice acting impact: For many Avatar/Legend of Korra fans, her voice is inseparable from Korra’s persona—strong, flawed, passionate. She helped bring nuance to a character who grapples with identity, power, and vulnerability.

2. Championing voices & stories: Through The JV Club, she normalized conversations about adolescence, identity, and struggle. Her willingness to explore vulnerability has inspired listeners to examine their own journeys.

3. Supporting comedy ecosystems: SF Sketchfest is a platform that supports emerging artists, giving them visibility, networking, and performance opportunities. Her leadership there strengthens comedic communities.

4. Versatility as a model: Varney’s career demonstrates that creatives need not be boxed into one medium. She shows how one can evolve across acting, voice work, producing, podcasting—and maintain authenticity.

Personality and Talents

Janet Varney is often described as warm, perceptive, curious, and intellectually playful. Her comedic roots (improv, sketch) give her a sharp instinct for timing, collaboration, and spontaneity.

She seems drawn to projects that allow for vulnerability—her podcast often probes themes of identity, adolescence, and emotional complexity. Her shift away from religion, personal transparency about mental health (she has discussed experiences of depersonalization), and openness about sexuality (she publicly came out as bisexual in 2018) point to someone committed to honest self-reflection.

Her capacity to move between comedy and drama, voice and live performance, producer and performer roles, signals a richness of talent coupled with discipline and adaptability.

Famous Quotes of Janet Varney

Here are some notable quotes by Janet Varney, which reveal her worldview and creative perspective:

“I hope that everyone has the opportunity, whatever their work environment may be, to be surrounded by people that they respect and are inspired by.”

“When you share something about your adolescence, it’s a way to roll over and show your soft underbelly when it comes to talking about your past and the person that you once were.”

“I guess I knew I was a people person, but I didn’t know how much till I had a podcast.”

“It’s great to be an actor, and it’s great to embody something more than who you are.”

“’Bridesmaids’ was phenomenal. It deserves every accolade it’s gotten, and it’s exciting for every woman in comedy.”

“I like to live in a world of unicorns and rainbows where I don’t pay attention to anything unless it’s positive.”

“I believe that truth is one of the most powerful tools we possess against victimization, exploitation, and fear.”

These sayings underscore themes such as honesty, empowerment, the value of community, and embracing vulnerability.

Lessons from Janet Varney

From Janet Varney’s life and career, we can draw several meaningful lessons:

1. Embrace creative multiplicity
   Don’t feel compelled to choose just one lane. Varney thrived across domains—voice, acting, production, podcasting. Each part enriched the others.

2. Vulnerability is strength
   By sharing her struggles, past, and growth, she builds connection. Being real often resonates more powerfully than bravado.

3. Support creative communities
   Through initiatives like SF Sketchfest, Varney invests in others’ growth. Building spaces for voices to emerge is part of artistic legacy.

4. Adapt and evolve
   Her pivot from design to acting, from live performance to podcasting, shows that being open to change sustains longevity.

5. Create your narrative
   Varney didn’t wait for roles to define her—she produced, hosted, curated, and shaped her own platforms. That proactive creation is instructive for any creative path.

Conclusion

Janet Varney represents a modern creative archetype: brave, flexible, and invested in both personal storytelling and community uplift. Her work as Korra endeared her to animation fans; her podcast opened doors to vulnerable conversations; and her role in building comedy festivals helped forge environments for new voices.

Her journey encourages us to explore beyond constraints, to seek authenticity, and to build—not just consume—creative landscapes. Dive deeper into her podcast episodes, voice performances, or public interviews to continue drawing inspiration from her evolving story.