167-165 Boulevard J. F. Kennedy, 06160 Antibes, France
Elizabeth Banks attends the amfAR's Cinema Against Aids Gala at the Hotel Du Cap during the 63rd International Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2010, in Cap d'Antibes, France. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2012
2 6th Ave, New York, NY 10013, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends The Cinema Society & Gilt Man with Grey Goose screening of "Man on a Ledge" at the Tribeca Grand Hotel on January 19, 2012, in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/FilmMagic)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2012
6360 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends the "Pitch Perfect" - Los Angeles Premiere at ArcLight Hollywood on September 24, 2012, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/WireImage)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2014
Köpenicker Str. 70, 10179 Berlin, Germany
Elizabeth Banks attends the 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' preview event at Kraftwerk Mitte on November 11, 2014, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Christian Marquardt)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2014
Park City, Utah, USA
Elizabeth Banks is photographed at the Sundance Film Festival 2014 for Self Assignment on January 25, 2014, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jeff Vespa)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2015
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2015
Venice, Italy
Elizabeth Banks attends the Venezia 72 Jury Photocall during the 72nd Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2015, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2015
Venice, Italy
Elizabeth Banks attends a premiere for 'Black Mass' during the 72nd Venice Film Festival at on September 4, 2015, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Tristan Fewings)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2015
45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, USA
Elizabeth Banks Visits "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" at Rockefeller Center on November 12, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/NBC)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2016
London, United Kingdom
Elizabeth Banks arrives for the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards on June 7, 2016, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2016
Los Angeles, California, USA
Elizabeth Banks is seen on July 21, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG001/Bauer-Griffin)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2017
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USa
Elizabeth Banks arrives at the Women In Film 2017 Crystal + Lucy Awards Presented By Max Mara And BMW at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 13, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2018
643 Park Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends Tom Ford Women's Fall/Winter 2018 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Park Avenue Armory on February 8, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Desiree Navarro/WireImage)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2018
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2018
Lehderstraße 34, 13086 Berlin, Germany
Elizabeth Banks attends the VOGUE Fashion Party at Kunstareal am Weissensee on July 6, 2018, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
Los Angeles, California, USA
Elizabeth Banks is seen on May 21, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
300 Doheny Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends Sony Pictures' "Brightburn" Photo Call at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on May 18, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
5220 Lankershim Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91601, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends the Hulu "Shrill" FYC screening at the Television Academy on May 22, 2019, in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Erik Voak)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
1020 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
Heidi Lindelof (L) and Elizabeth Banks speak onstage during The Center for Reproductive Rights Inaugural Los Angeles Benefit at The London West Hollywood on March 6, 2019, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
St. Entrance, 500 E Cesar Chavez St #4th, Austin, TX 78701, USA
Elizabeth Banks speaks onstage at Featured Session: Elizabeth Banks with Aidy Bryant during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 10, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mike Jordan)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
719 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701, USA
Elizabeth Banks speaks onstage at "Shrill" Premiere during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Stateside Theater on March 11, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Sean Mathis)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA
Elizabeth Banks at CinemaCon 2019-Frankly Speaking: The Ever-Changing World of Filmmaking Today, Tomorrow and Beyond at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 4, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA
Olivia Wilde and Elizabeth Banks at CinemaCon 2019- Frankly Speaking: The Ever-Changing World of Filmmaking Today, Tomorrow and Beyond at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 4, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
2019
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Tony Barson/FilmMagic)
Gallery of Elizabeth Banks
10202 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends City Year Los Angeles' Spring Break: Destination Education at Sony Studios on April 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Randy Shropshire)
Achievements
Membership
Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
Awards
Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award
2009
The Century Plaza, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends Women In Film Crystal + Lucy Awards presented by MaxMara - Inside at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on June 12, 2009, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan)
MTV Movie Award
2012
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends 2012 MTV Movie Awards at Gibson Amphitheatre on June 3, 2012, in Universal City, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
CinemaCon Award
2013
4605 Lankershim Blvd # 280, North Hollywood, CA 91602, USA
Elizabeth Banks accepts the award for "Award of Excellence in Acting" at the CinemaCon 2013 Big Screen Achievement Awards held at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners on April 18, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
The Century Plaza, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends Women In Film Crystal + Lucy Awards presented by MaxMara - Inside at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on June 12, 2009, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan)
167-165 Boulevard J. F. Kennedy, 06160 Antibes, France
Elizabeth Banks attends the amfAR's Cinema Against Aids Gala at the Hotel Du Cap during the 63rd International Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2010, in Cap d'Antibes, France. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends 2012 MTV Movie Awards at Gibson Amphitheatre on June 3, 2012, in Universal City, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Elizabeth Banks attends The Cinema Society & Gilt Man with Grey Goose screening of "Man on a Ledge" at the Tribeca Grand Hotel on January 19, 2012, in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/FilmMagic)
Elizabeth Banks attends the "Pitch Perfect" - Los Angeles Premiere at ArcLight Hollywood on September 24, 2012, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/WireImage)
4605 Lankershim Blvd # 280, North Hollywood, CA 91602, USA
Elizabeth Banks accepts the award for "Award of Excellence in Acting" at the CinemaCon 2013 Big Screen Achievement Awards held at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners on April 18, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Elizabeth Banks attends the 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' preview event at Kraftwerk Mitte on November 11, 2014, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Christian Marquardt)
Elizabeth Banks attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca)
Elizabeth Banks attends the Venezia 72 Jury Photocall during the 72nd Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2015, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto)
Elizabeth Banks attends a premiere for 'Black Mass' during the 72nd Venice Film Festival at on September 4, 2015, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Tristan Fewings)
Elizabeth Banks Visits "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" at Rockefeller Center on November 12, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/NBC)
Elizabeth Banks arrives for the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards on June 7, 2016, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Elizabeth Banks arrives at the Women In Film 2017 Crystal + Lucy Awards Presented By Max Mara And BMW at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 13, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Elizabeth Banks attends Tom Ford Women's Fall/Winter 2018 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Park Avenue Armory on February 8, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Desiree Navarro/WireImage)
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil)
Elizabeth Banks attends Sony Pictures' "Brightburn" Photo Call at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on May 18, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Elizabeth Banks attends the Hulu "Shrill" FYC screening at the Television Academy on May 22, 2019, in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Erik Voak)
1020 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
Heidi Lindelof (L) and Elizabeth Banks speak onstage during The Center for Reproductive Rights Inaugural Los Angeles Benefit at The London West Hollywood on March 6, 2019, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray)
St. Entrance, 500 E Cesar Chavez St #4th, Austin, TX 78701, USA
Elizabeth Banks speaks onstage at Featured Session: Elizabeth Banks with Aidy Bryant during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 10, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mike Jordan)
Elizabeth Banks speaks onstage at "Shrill" Premiere during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Stateside Theater on March 11, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Sean Mathis)
Elizabeth Banks at CinemaCon 2019-Frankly Speaking: The Ever-Changing World of Filmmaking Today, Tomorrow and Beyond at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 4, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer)
Olivia Wilde and Elizabeth Banks at CinemaCon 2019- Frankly Speaking: The Ever-Changing World of Filmmaking Today, Tomorrow and Beyond at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 4, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer)
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
Elizabeth Banks attends the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Tony Barson/FilmMagic)
Elizabeth Banks attends City Year Los Angeles' Spring Break: Destination Education at Sony Studios on April 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Randy Shropshire)
(Elizabeth Banks and James Marsden star in this outrageous...)
Elizabeth Banks and James Marsden star in this outrageous comedy about a news anchor who finds herself in the wrong part of LA after a night of partying.
(It's the last day of Camp Firewood's season, but there's ...)
It's the last day of Camp Firewood's season, but there's still time for the big talent show, a little romance... and for everyone to be wiped out by the piece of NASA's Skylab that's hurtling toward Earth.
(True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse who...)
True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of the nation as well.
(In Spider-Man 2 based on the classic Marvel Comics hero, ...)
In Spider-Man 2 based on the classic Marvel Comics hero, Tobey Maguire returns as the mild-mannered Peter Parker, who is juggling the delicate balance of his dual life as a college student and superhuman crime fighter.
(Spanning twenty-four hours, Heights follows five New York...)
Spanning twenty-four hours, Heights follows five New Yorkers challenged to choose their destiny before the sun comes up the next day. Directed by acclaimed writer Chris Terrio, the ensemble cast includes Glenn Close.
(Bello plays Marcia, one of three sisters around whom the ...)
Bello plays Marcia, one of three sisters around whom the story is based. The film opens with Marcia and Olga preparing a birthday surprise for their younger sister, Irene. There are deep seated, clearly longstanding rifts opening up between Marcia and her siblings and their other family members, especially when a man from their childhood makes a surprise appearance and jolts a few unhappy memories out of the women. Revelations about the sisters' turbulent relationship with each other and their father begin to surface and Irene has to quell a storm brewing between two men with romantic intentions toward her, and to make matters worse, their troublesome brother and his girlfriend appear.
(Andy Stitzer has gone 40 years without "doing it". Now hi...)
Andy Stitzer has gone 40 years without "doing it". Now his pals are making it their mission to help him score; fast! Can he survive their hilariously bad advice? Will he land in the arms of the way-too-experienced or the way-too-drunk? Or can he find true love where he least expects - from a gorgeous grandmother?
(New York City is in the throes of Spider-mania, and Peter...)
New York City is in the throes of Spider-mania, and Peter Parker finally has the girl of his dreams. But just when it seems like things can't get any better, Spider-Man must fight the most terrifying trio of villains he's ever encountered-the deadly Sandman, the New Goblin, and Venom-plus the enemy he discovers within himself.
(From the makers of Notting Hill and Love Actually comes t...)
From the makers of Notting Hill and Love Actually comes this charming romantic comedy about a father who discovers that a second look at the past may lead to a second chance at the future.
(Seeking a way to save their doomed world, a crew of tiny,...)
Seeking a way to save their doomed world, a crew of tiny, human-looking aliens arrives on earth in the perfect disguise - a spaceship shaped like Eddie Murphy, the ship's captain. While trying to save their planet, the aliens encounter problems, as their ship becomes smitten with an Earth woman.
(Lonely in life and love, Robert Malone (Martin Landau) br...)
Lonely in life and love, Robert Malone (Martin Landau) braves the wintry snow on the walk from his job at the grocery store to his home, only to discover a stranger (Ellen Burstyn) in his house. What begins as an awkward encounter quickly blossoms into what appears to be a new chance for romance, and the elderly couple's love affair takes us on a heartfelt journey that reveals an unexpected twist.
(Lifelong platonic friends Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) l...)
Lifelong platonic friends Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) look to solve their respective cashflow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.
(Role Models is the comedy that brings new meaning to juve...)
Role Models is the comedy that brings new meaning to juvenile delinquency! Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star as the world's most unlikely mentors.
(Based on Kim Jee-Woon's 2003 korean horror film. Story of...)
Based on Kim Jee-Woon's 2003 korean horror film. Story of two sisters returning home to their father from a mental institution, whose recovery is hindered by their cruel stepmother.
(John Brennan (Crowe) will stop at nothing to protect his ...)
John Brennan (Crowe) will stop at nothing to protect his family, but he's never had to put his life and others' on the line. When his wife is convicted of murder, and all appeals efforts are exhausted, the only hope he sees is breaking her out.
(Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks star in this darkly funny ...)
Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks star in this darkly funny comedy about how one perfect couple's small mistake leads to a wild chain of events involving extortion, sex and murder. Laura Linney, Kerry Washington, Ray Liotta round out the all-star cast.
(Inspired by the perennial bestseller, What to Expect When...)
Inspired by the perennial bestseller, What to Expect When You're Expecting is a hilarious and heartfelt comedy about five couples whose intertwined lives are turned upside down by the challenges of impending parenthood.
(Pitch Perfect is an outrageously hilarious laugh-out-loud...)
Pitch Perfect is an outrageously hilarious laugh-out-loud comedy that also stars Anna Camp (The Help), Brittany Snow (Hairspray) and Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids).
(From the twisted minds of producers Peter Farrelly (Hall ...)
From the twisted minds of producers Peter Farrelly (Hall Pass, Shallow Hal) and Charles Wessler (There's Something About Mary, Dumb & Dumber), comes Movie 43 - the outrageous new ensemble comedy starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood!
(Jennifer Lawrence returns in this thrilling sequel to The...)
Jennifer Lawrence returns in this thrilling sequel to The Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta embark on a victory tour while President Snow plots a deadly new Hunger Games that could change Panem forever.
(A mining tragedy and the subsequent disappearance of a lo...)
A mining tragedy and the subsequent disappearance of a local boy ignite a series of events that perilously entangle and forever alter the lives of three strangers in this taut and affecting drama starring Elizabeth Banks.
(Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks, and Dakota Fanning star in a...)
Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks, and Dakota Fanning star in a psychological thriller about two teens suspected of abducting a child and the detective racing to prevent history from repeating.
(The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to...)
The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever.
(Beca (Anna Kendrick), Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) and the Bard...)
Beca (Anna Kendrick), Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) and the Barden Bellas are back to compete in the World Championships of A Cappella after a scandal threatens their legacy.
(Three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at ...)
Three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, he and the remaining Kings of Tampa hit the road to Myrtle Beach to put on one last blow-out performance.
(One of the most celebrated movie series of all time comes...)
One of the most celebrated movie series of all time comes to its epic end. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, who began her journey fighting to survive the brutal Hunger Games, and rose to lead the rebellion against Panem's President Snow. Now, Katniss and a team of rebels from District 13 prepare for the final epic battle that will decide Panem's future.
(Now graduated from college and out in the real world wher...)
Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, all the Bellas return in the final chapter in the beloved series.
(The Happytime Murders is set in the underbelly of Los Ang...)
The Happytime Murders is set in the underbelly of Los Angeles where puppets and humans coexist. Two clashing detectives, one human and one puppet, are forced to work together to try and solve who is brutally murdering the former cast of "The Happytime Gang, " a beloved classic puppet show.
(From three-time Oscar winning director Steven Spielberg, ...)
From three-time Oscar winning director Steven Spielberg, Catch Me If You Can follows Frank W. Abagnale, Jr. as he successfully passes himself off as a pilot, a lawyer, and a doctor - all before his 21st birthday!
Elizabeth Banks is an American Emmy Award-nominated film and television actress, director, and producer, known for her work in Spider-Man, 30 Rock, Pitch Perfect, and The Hunger Games.
Background
Ethnicity:
Elizabeth Banks has English, Irish, Scottish, and one sixteenth Dutch, ancestry.
Elizabeth Irene Mitchell was born on February 10, 1974, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the United States, as the eldest of the four children of Mark Mitchell and Ann (Wallace) Mitchell. Her father, a Vietnam veteran, worked in General Electric and her mother was a bank employee.
Banks was raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Brown Street. Growing up, Banks played baseball, softball and rode horses. She was in Little League when she broke her leg sliding into third base.
Education
Elizabeth Banks graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1992 and is a member of the Massachusetts Junior Classical League. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and was elected to the Friars Senior Society. She graduated magna cum laude in 1996 with a major in communications and a minor in theater arts. In 1998, she completed schooling at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree.
Elizabeth Banks moved to New York and worked in the theater, and began getting small roles in films and on television. After auditioning in New York, she was offered a role on the soap opera Santa Barbara. Taking the role would have required her to quit her education at the American Conservatory Theatre, and Banks ultimately decided to forgo the offer due to having taken out student loans to complete her degree. In 1998, she made her debut appearance in Surrender Dorothy, a movie on drug addiction as Elizabeth Casey. Her performance in Surrender Dorothy gave way to more chances in television. She acted in Gotham-based TV productions like Third Watch and Sex and the City.
Banks moved to Los Angeles in search of more opportunities on the big screen. As there was another actress by name Elizabeth Mitchell, she changed her name to “Banks” to avoid confusion. Moving to Los Angeles, California, from New York City, Banks would land roles in scores of films that spanned the gamut from comedy to drama, horror to sci-fi/fantasy.
In 2002, a turning point in Banks's career came through her appearance in Sam Raimi’s Spiderman. Her role as Betty Brant, a secretary to a newspaper tycoon was specially customized to suit her skill. Her role in Spider-Man (2002) was followed by a turn later that year as a bank employee in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. Her career graph kept moving ahead with roles in Guy Ritchie’s Swept Away and Catch Me If You Can. Her role in Catch Me If You Can gained her major popularity. Her performance as the young wife of the owner of a racehorse in Seabiscuit (2003) got her nominated for Screen Actors Guild award. In 2004, she continued her role as Betty Brent in Spider-Man 2, where she proved her comic ability.
Banks gaining even more prominent widespread exposure through the 2005 comedy film The 40-Year-Old Virgin. In August 2005, at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Banks starred in William Inge’s Bus Stop as Cherie, the sexy blonde aspiring nightclub singer.
In 2006, Banks got her first major role in Slither, a comic horror film. Here, she proved her comic zest through her role as the wife of a man possessed by an alien. In 2006, Banks appeared in the American football drama film Invincible, in which she played Mark Wahlberg’s love interest. Later, she and co-star Wahlberg were nominated for the “Best Kiss” award at the MTV Movie Awards. In 2007, Banks played the female lead in the comedy film Meet Bill, alongside Aaron Eckhart and Jessica Alba. In 2008, she played the ex-wife and mother of the daughter of Ryan Reynolds lead in the comedy film Definitely, Maybe.
In 2008 Banks starred as First Lady Laura Bush in the Oliver Stone-directed, George W. Bush biopic W. The following year she returned to her guest role on the medical comedy Scrubs, in which she had portrayed Dr. Kim Briggs in 2006. In 2009, Banks appeared in the horror film The Uninvited, a remake of the South Korean film A Tale of Two Sisters.
In addition to her movie work, Banks continued on TV with a recurring 30 Rock role as conservative news commentator Avery Jessup, who became romantically involved with Alec Baldwin's character Jack Donaghy. Bank received 2011 and 2012 Emmy nominations for her work.
The year 2012 was a big one for the actress, with six films being released that she starred in - among them People Like Us, The Details, What to Expect When You're Expecting and Man on a Ledge. Her biggest project that year was the screen adaptation of the bestselling Suzanne Collins series The Hunger Games. The film, starring Jennifer Lawrence, featured Banks as Effie Trinket, a capitol representative with a particularized accent who sports brightly-hued wigs, face makeup, and extravagant attire. Games grossed more than $690 million worldwide, and Banks was cast in its sequels, Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014), and Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015).
In 2014 Banks starred as Melinda Ledbetter in the acclaimed biopic Love & Mercy about the life of The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson. The following year she appeared in Magic Mike XXL and over several seasons had garnered a role (Sal) on the hit sitcom Modern Family, for which she gained another Emmy nomination in 2015. That same year she also starred in Netflix's comedy miniseries Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp as Lindsay and reprised her role two years later with a sequel Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017).
Banks has worked behind the scenes as well. She started the production company Brownstone with her husband Max Handelman, and the two have produced Surrogates (2009) and the Pitch Perfect movies (2012 and 2015), two comedic outings about an all-women's a cappella group starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson. Banks also made her big-screen directorial debut with the second Pitch Perfect film, which earned around $285 million worldwide, more than doubling the gross of its predecessor. In autumn 2015, it was announced that Banks would helm the third film in the franchise. She has also directed and acted in the short Just a Little Heart Attack as part of the Go Red for Women campaign, which educates viewers on heart disease.
In 2018, Banks co-starred as Jenny in the comedy film The Happytime Murders, alongside Melissa McCarthy and Maya Rudolph. In 2019, she reprised her starring role as Lucy / Wyldstyle in the animated comedy film The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. She then starred as Tori Breyer in the science fiction horror film Brightburn. Banks will also direct, produce, co-write, and star as Bosley in the stand-alone sequel film Charlie's Angels.
(Based on Kim Jee-Woon's 2003 korean horror film. Story of...)
2009
Religion
Elizabeth Banks was raised in a Catholic and Protestant household, but when she met her husband, she decided to convert into his religion. Banks went through parts of the process of conversion to Judaism, her husband's faith, and studied with rabbis. In 2013, speaking of her religion, she stated that she practices Judaism, though "I did not have my mikveh, so technically I'm not converted," but that she has "been essentially a Jew for like 15 years," adding "Frankly, because I'm already doing everything [practicing religious rituals], I feel like I'm as Jewish as I'm ever going to be."
Politics
As a 1996 graduate of The University of Pennsylvania, Banks had the opportunity to experience two election cycles at Penn. She told students she cast her first ever vote for Bill Clinton, joking, "He was my first guy … he was my first." In 2012, Elizabeth Banks threw her support behind President Barack Obama in a highly personal video testimonial on the importance of federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Banks was a vocal supporter of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and was involved in a rendition of Rachel Platten's single "Fight Song" with other celebrities at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Views
Elizabeth Banks is a supporter of Planned Parenthood and awareness of women’s health issues. She said about the opposition’s plan to cut Planned Parenthood funding, arguing that 95% of what Planned Parenthood does in non-controversial: "For that little 5 percent that Mitt Romney decides he doesn’t agree with, he’s going to take away cancer screenings. What is he doing? He’s going to take away people’s access to health care close by. We’re talking about working-class ladies who need health care. That’s it. That’s Planned Parenthood." As a social worker, she is actively involved in the Go Red for Women campaign and in one of its awareness campaigns on heart disease.
When discussing reproductive rights, Banks told Cosmopolitan Magazine that “all-male legislators don’t tell us what to do with our bodies. It’s our medical decisions, it’s our lives … it’s about parity and equity in the world. Women have to be able to make their own decisions about child-rearing.”
Outside of interviews, Banks uses her social media platforms for good - she speaks out in favor of reproductive rights, abortion access, gun control, voting rights, DACA, #TimesUp, and so much more. She spoke at the 2018 Women’s March.
Quotations:
"I really think that we do a disservice to young people in America by not being more open about sex. Abstinence programs do not work. It's a natural, physical thing having sex."
"Every once in a while I play a true idiot, and they're really fun to play."
"The first agent I ever met in this industry told me to get a boob job. I was so grateful that I didn't have enough money at the time to follow his advice. I also did not sign with him despite that."
"I love women leading by example. That’s what I’m trying to do and encourage more women to go after things that they want, stories that they want to tell, get behind the camera, hire more women. I think that change is often glacially paced, but this is a great moment to make some strides."
Membership
Screen Actors Guild
,
United States
Delta Delta Delta Sorority
Massachusetts Junior Classical League
Friars Senior Society
Personality
Elizabeth Banks enjoys Fantasy Football as a hobby, she even co-wrote the book Why Fantasy Football Matters: (And Our Lives Do Not) with her husband.
Physical Characteristics:
Banks is approximately 1.64 m tall, her weight is 55 kg. She has medium long light-blond hair and blue eyes.
Elizabeth Banks loves to work out and hires personal trainer Joselynne Boschen. She has been working with Boschen for five years. When Elizabeth is in Los Angeles, she exercises three days a week for about an hour and concentrates on cardiovascular exercises, weight training, plyometrics, medicine balls, and TRX training.
Interests
Politicians
Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama
Writers
Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare, Michael Lewis
Sport & Clubs
Softball, horse riding, baseball, basketball
Athletes
Allen Iverson, Greg Oden, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith
Music & Bands
Pop, country
Connections
Elizabeth Banks met her husband Max Handelman, sportswriter and producer, on her first day of college on September 6, 1992, but when she gave him her number she didn't realize he genuinely didn't have a phone. Fortunately, they met again three weeks later. They dated for eleven years before marrying in 2003. The couple have two sons. She and her husband had their first child born through a surrogate in March 2011. In November 2012, Banks announced the birth of another son also by a surrogate.
In 2012, after the birth of her second son, Banks spoke openly about her choice to use a surrogate to carry her children. Banks revealed that she and her husband opted to use a surrogate after Banks was unable to carry a child. Banks stated that once her "focus became the baby and not the pregnancy, it was a very easy decision." Banks admitted that although it was difficult to invite another person to share one of the most intimate moments of her life, she has managed to form a lasting bond with the surrogate who carried both of her children. During an interview Banks said, "our surrogate is so extraordinary, and she's still in our lives."