Who Is Vera Panfilova on ‘Better Than Us’?

Netflix’s newest bingeable sci-fi show is Better Than Us, a Russian import that takes place in the near future where robots are as ubiquitous as iPhones (and iPhones are weird bracelets that project things on your wrist, sleeves be damned). The series is equal parts murder mystery and family drama, as a down-on-his-luck medical examiner gets involved in a major corporate coverup after a mysterious bot does the one thing no bot should be able to do: kill a human.

The series has a large ensemble that only grows with every episode as the mystery deepens. There are a lot of names to keep track of, twice as many if you’re counting the names as they’re pronounced in Russian and the English subtitles (you’ll see what I mean in a sec). Of all the cast, there’s one breakout star that’s captured the attention of the show’s new American audience: Vera Panfilova.

Who does Vera Panfilova play on Better Than Us?

Better Than Us, also known as Better Than Humans, has a huge cast that includes the lead family, the robot Arisa, some government agents, some corporate villains, and a band of insurgent humans known as Liquidators. Zhanna, also known as Jeanna in the English subtitles, is a member of the Liquidators and she is played by Vera Panfilova.

We first meet Zhanna (or Jeanna) in Episode 2 when angry teen Egor bumps into her on the street and spills her diet soda all over her shirt. The two have an immediate spark, because Jeanna (or Zhanna) tells the random guy to look for her at the Bot-Net Club. When Egor finds her later, she meets Zhanna’s brother Bars, who works (coincidentally??) as a bartender.

But that’s not their only gig: Egor finds out in Episode 3 (and this isn’t that big a spoiler considering it’s in both of their character descriptions) that both Jeanna and Bars are members of the Liquidators. Egor wins over their trust, and also the affection of Zhanna, by taking part in the Night of the Hanging Bots rally.

Who is Vera Panfilova?

Panfilova is a Russian actress whose only credit on Netflix is Better Than Us. She has smaller roles in the Russian films Gulyay Vasya!, Yolki 1914, and Startap.

For more, you can follow Vera on Instagram under the name @verakinch, although it’ll help to know Russian or have a translator handy.

Stream Better Than Us on Netflix