Vera Drew is an American filmmaker, actress, and comedian. She is best known for her film The People's Joker, which she directed, wrote, produced and starred in.
Early life Drew was born in Chicago, Illinois. As a teenager, she studied improv comedy through a Second City youth pilot program.
Career Drew has worked in entertainment television since 2009, including as an editor, producer, and director on comedy shows including for On Cinema, Comedy Bang! Bang!, and Who Is America?. In 2019, Drew was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming for her work on Who Is America?.
The crowdfunded film The People's Joker, which she directed and starred in as the Joker, debuted at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
Personal life Drew is a trans woman and resides in Los Angeles.
Filmography
Film + Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor ActressRole Notes 2022 The People's Joker Joker the Harlequin/Vera2024 Castration Movie Anthology i: Traps Persephone Carnage for Christmas 2025 Every Heavy Thing Alex 2026 Castration Movie Anthology iii: The Year of the Hyaena Persephone Trandemic Zac Ntim. (2026, July 6). Vera Drew’s ‘Trandemic’ Wins Transgender Film Center’s Inaugural Found Footage Fund Award. Deadline. https://deadline.com/2026/07/vera-drew-trandemic-transgender-film-center-fund-award-2026-1236974988/
Television + Year Title Director Editor Other Notes 2013 The Birthday Boys 1 episode Nathan for You DIT; 8 episodes Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories DIT; 1 episode 2013–16 Comedy Bang! Bang! Editor; 62 episodesDIT; 20 episodes 2014 Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule DIT; 5 episodes 2017 Joe Mande's Award-Winning Comedy Special TV special 2018 Alone Together 4 episodes Who Is America? 7 episodes 2019 KRFT PUNK'S Political Party! TV special Two Pink Doors 2020 Beef House 1 episode An Evening with Tim Heidecker TV special 2021 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson 6 episodes
Web series + Year Title Director Editor Notes 2017, 2021 On Cinema Editor; 10 episodes (2017)Director; 10 episodes (2021) 2018–19 An Emmy for Megan 12 episodes 2019 Tim and Eric Qu?z Game 6 episodes I Love David 6 episodes Scum 6 episodes 2021 Rock House
Awards and nominations +Accolades Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming Who Is America? 2023 Chicago International Film Festival Gold Q-Hugo The People's Joker L.A. Outfest Special Mention, North American Narrative Feature Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival Best Feature Narrative Seattle Queer Film Festival Best Feature Film 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Milos Stehlik Award for Breakthrough Filmmaker Gotham Awards Breakthrough Director Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards New Generation Award Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Debut Feature Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Best First Feature 2025 Austin Film Critics Association Awards Best First Film Robert R. "Bobby" McCurdy Memorial Breakthrough Artist Award Dorian Awards "We're Wilde About You!" Rising Star of the Year LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer Independent Spirit Awards John Cassavetes Award
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