Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Vera Drew

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.

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Jul 30, 2026
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Vera Drew
Drew in 2019
Born (1989-05-22) May 22, 1989
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • director
  • editor
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • editor
Years active2009–present
Notable work
Websitehttps://veradrew.com

Vera Drew is an American filmmaker, actress, and comedian.1 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.2 As a teenager, she studied improv comedy through a Second City youth pilot program.1

Career

Drew has worked in entertainment television since 2009, including as an editor, producer, and director on comedy shows3 including for On Cinema,4 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?.53

The crowdfunded film The People's Joker, which she directed and starred in as the Joker, debuted at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.6

Personal life

Drew is a trans woman and resides in Los Angeles.1

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Actress Role Notes
2022 The People's Joker Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Joker the Harlequin/Vera
2024 Castration Movie Anthology i: Traps No No Yes No Yes Persephone 7
Carnage for Christmas No No No Yes No N/a
2025 Every Heavy Thing No No No No Yes Alex
2026 Castration Movie Anthology iii: The Year of the Hyaena No No Yes No Yes Persephone
TBA Trandemic Yes TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 8

Television

Year Title Director Editor Other Notes
2013 The Birthday Boys No Yes No 1 episode
Nathan for You No No Yes DIT; 8 episodes
Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories No No Yes DIT; 1 episode
2013–16 Comedy Bang! Bang! No Yes Yes Editor; 62 episodes
DIT; 20 episodes
2014 Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule No Yes Yes DIT; 5 episodes
2017 Joe Mande's Award-Winning Comedy Special No Yes No TV special
2018 Alone Together No Yes No 4 episodes
Who Is America? No Yes No 7 episodes
2019 KRFT PUNK'S Political Party! No Yes No TV special
Two Pink Doors No Yes No N/a
2020 Beef House No Yes No 1 episode
An Evening with Tim Heidecker No Yes No TV special
2021 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson No Yes No 6 episodes

Web series

Year Title Director Editor Notes
2017, 2021 On Cinema Yes Yes Editor; 10 episodes (2017)
Director; 10 episodes (2021)
2018–19 An Emmy for Megan No Yes 12 episodes
2019 Tim and Eric Qu?z Game Yes No 6 episodes
I Love David Yes No 6 episodes
Scum Yes No 6 episodes
2021 Rock House No Yes N/a

Awards and nominations

Accolades
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref(s)
2019 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming Who Is America?a Nominated 5
2023 Chicago International Film Festival Gold Q-Hugo The People's Joker Nominated 9
L.A. Outfest Special Mention, North American Narrative Feature Wonb 10
Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival Best Feature Narrative Won 11
Seattle Queer Film Festival Best Feature Film Won 12
2024 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Milos Stehlik Award for Breakthrough Filmmaker Nominated 13
Gotham Awards Breakthrough Director Won 14
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards New Generation Award Won 15
Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Debut Feature Won 16
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Best First Feature Nominated 17
2025 Austin Film Critics Association Awards Best First Film Nominated 18
Robert R. "Bobby" McCurdy Memorial Breakthrough Artist Awardc Won 18
Dorian Awards "We're Wilde About You!" Rising Star of the Year Nominated 19
LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer Nominated 19
Independent Spirit Awards John Cassavetes Award Nominated 20
Notes

Notes

  1. Nominated alongside Eric Notarnicola, Roger Nygard, Mark Davies, Matt Davis, and Jeremy Cohen.
  2. Shared with Erica Tremblay for Fancy Dance.
  3. Shared with Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing), Mikey Madison (Anora), Katy O'Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), and Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge).
References

References

  1. Alter, Rebecca (April 12, 2024). "A Joker by the People, for the People". Vulture. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  2. Gielen, Fez (November 4, 2024). "Filmmaker Vera Drew on giving yourself the green-light". The Creative Independent.
  3. Riedel, Samantha (September 19, 2019). "Emmy-Nominated Trans Comedian Vera Drew Is Seriously Joking". Them. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  4. Colangelo, B. J. (April 1, 2024). "The People's Joker Review: A Bafflingly Brilliant Slice Of Satirical Anarchy". SlashFilm. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  5. "Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming 2019 - Emmy Awards Nominees & Winners". Television Academy. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  6. Adams, Sam (September 14, 2022). "The Trans Joker Movie Is a Sight to See. Too Bad It Might Never Be Seen Again". Slate. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  7. T, Amber (May 24, 2023). "Exclusive: Meet The Cast Of Louise Weard's New Six Hour Epic". Fangoria. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  8. 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/
  9. Sanders, Kyle (October 23, 2023). "The 59th Annual Chicago International Film Fest -- That's a Wrap!". Chirp Radio. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  10. Reynolds, Daniel (July 24, 2023). "Outfest 2023: And the Winners Are..." Out. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  11. "Oslo/Fusion Jury Award winners 2023". Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival. October 1, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  12. Strangeways, Michael (October 23, 2023). "Seattle Queer Film Festival Wraps Up Live Screenings But Online Festival Continues…Also, The Award Winners!". Seattle Gay Scene. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  13. Haskell, Christopher (December 11, 2024). "Oscars Watch: 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards". Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  14. Lewis, Hilary; Kirsten Chuba (December 2, 2024). "2024 Gotham Awards: A Different Man Wins Best Feature as Nickel Boys, Sing Sing Each Take Two". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  15. Richlin, Harrison (December 8, 2024). "Anora Wins Best Picture from Los Angeles Film Critics Association — Winners List". IndieWire. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  16. "2024 Awards (28th Annual)". Online Film Critics Society. January 31, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  17. "Nickel Boys Leads 2024 TFCA Awards Winners". Toronto Film Critics Association. December 15, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  18. Whittaker, Richard (January 6, 2025). "Austin Film Critics Association Picks Anora As Year's Best Film". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  19. "2025 Dorian Film Awards". GALECA. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  20. Richlin, Harrison; Alison Foreman (February 22, 2025). "The People's Joker Filmmaker Vera Drew Believes Mainstream Queer Representation Has Gotten 'So Stale'". IndieWire. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
External links