Varla Jean Merman
Acting
Biography
Varla Jean Merman is the drag persona of American drag performer, actor and singer Jeffery Roberson. Varla's fictitious pedigree boasts that Ernest Borgnine is her father and Ethel Merman is her mother. Along with her co-stars, Roberson shared the 'Best Actor Grand Jury Award' at Outfest 2003 and 'Best Actress' honors at both the 2003 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and the 2003 Aspen HBO Film Festival for his role as Varla/Marla in the film 'Girls Will Be Girls'.
Known For
Hush Up Sweet Charlotte
While defending her family’s historic plantation from destruction, Charlotte, a reclusive Southern-belle spinster, calls for help from her cousin Melanie, but Melanie's arrival sparks a chain of melodramatic events that send Charlotte into madness.
Ugly Betty
Wannabe writer Betty Suarez is a plain girl from Queens, who is smart, hardworking and savvy but lacks a fashionable sense of style. When publishing mogul Bradford Meade puts his son Daniel in charge of Mode magazine, he hires Betty to be Daniel's new assistant -- mostly because he knows that she may be the only woman in Manhattan with whom the younger man won't sleep.
Project Runway
Aspiring fashion designers compete for a chance to break into the industry. Each week, a designer is eliminated from the competition after exhibiting their work in front of a judges' panel.
Girls Will Be Girls
Nothing stirs up the competitive spirit in haggard Hollywood has-been Evie Harris like having to share a house with a younger actress like Varla. Especially since Varla happens to be the daughter of Evie's now-deceased rival! But even as their saner roommate, Coco, attempts to keep the peace, Evie's jealousy over Varla's burgeoning infomercial career is about to explode... in the most spectacular, showstopping way possible!
BearCity 2: The Proposal
Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York, Roger proposes to his boyfriend Tyler , and the gang embarks on a road trip to Provincetown, Massachusetts for Bear Week.
Wig
Spotlighting the art of drag, and centered on the New York staple Wigstock, this documentary showcases the personalities and performances that inform the ways we understand queerness, art and identity today.
The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special
The story of two queens who set out to create a classic Christmas TV variety show, but just can’t agree on how. DeLa tries her hardest to uphold the cheery Christmas traditions of her childhood. Meanwhile, Jinkx is much more interested in bawdy jokes, cute boys, and boozy libations.
Bear Week Diaries
LGTBQ romantic love story set in the reality of Bear Week in Provincetown. Shot in the magical setting of summer in Cape Cod.
Franchesca Page
The story follows the adventures of Rita Page, an aspiring showgirl in Las Vegas and his daughter Franchesca completely talentless, in their relentless pursuit of Broadway fame.
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens is a celebration of the lives lost to AIDS told in free-verse monologues with a blues, jazz and rock score.
Filmography
as Irlene / Amos
as Varla Jean Merman
as Nanog (voice)
as Self
as Self
as Melanie, Stan
as Varla Jean Merman
as Varla Jean Merman / Various Characters
as Self
as Self
as Varla / Marla
as Rita Page
as Self
as Mrs. Goose