Vera Cherny was born Vera Vasilyevna Chernysheva in Primorsky Krai, Russia, to Lyubov, a teacher, and Vasily, a former Soviet Army officer. From birth, she was destined to travel. The first time the family relocated, Vera was less than two months old and her parents carried her onto a military truck in an open suitcase, instead of a bassinet.
Because of her father's profession the family moved a lot. Vera began performing at three and a half years old, as a student at a local dance school in Altengrabow, in the former East Germany. No matter where she found herself, she continued taking dance classes and doing school productions.
In keeping with her destiny, at sixteen years old, Vera came, by herself, to the United States, on a full-time scholarship from the Freedom Support Act. She continued pursuing her undergraduate and graduate studies in the U.S., while also participating in college and regional theatre productions (and taking dance classes, of course).
She graduated with an M.F.A. in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School in New York City.
Currently, Vera appears on the FX series "The Americans", as a recurring character of Tatiana Evgenyevna (Seasons 3 and 4). She is also playing a recurring character of Vera on Crackle's upcoming show "The Start-Up" (currently filming).
