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Who Is Elizabeth Banks?
Elizabeth Banks is a highly accomplished actress and filmmaker known for her extensive work in both film and television. She has delivered memorable performances in a variety of notable projects, including Spider-Man, Invincible, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, W., and the acclaimed The Hunger Games series. Her television career has also been impressive, earning her Emmy nominations for her guest appearances on popular shows like 30 Rock and Modern Family. In addition to her acting career, Banks is a co-founder of Brownstone Productions and made her directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015. She further showcased her directorial talents with a reboot of Charlie’s Angels.
Early Life and Career
Born Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell on February 10, 1974, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Banks developed a love for the outdoors and sports during her childhood. Her interest in performance was sparked after an injury—she broke her leg sliding into third base during a softball game—leading her to discover the camaraderie of theater. Banks pursued her education rigorously, earning a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated magna cum laude, followed by an M.F.A. from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
In her early career, Banks gained valuable on-screen experience while living in New York, appearing in Gotham-based television productions such as Sex and the City and Third Watch. She made her film debut in the gender-twisting drama Surrender Dorothy and later starred in John Singleton’s 2000 remake of Shaft. In an effort to distinguish herself from another actress named Elizabeth Mitchell, who gained recognition for her role in Lost, she adopted the stage name Elizabeth Banks.
Film and Television Career
Early Roles and Breakthroughs After relocating from New York City to Los Angeles, California, Elizabeth Banks secured roles in a wide array of films, encompassing genres from comedy to drama, horror, and sci-fi/fantasy. She gained early recognition in the cult classic Wet Hot American Summer (2001) and later portrayed Betty Brant, the secretary at the Daily Bugle, in Spider-Man (2002). That same year, she appeared as a bank employee in Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can. Her subsequent performances included notable roles in The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Invincible (2006), Meet Bill (2008), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), and Definitely, Maybe (2008). Banks reprised her role as Brant in the Spider-Man sequels released in 2004 and 2007.
Television Appearances In 2008, Banks portrayed First Lady Laura Bush in Oliver Stone’s biopic W., which focused on the life of George W. Bush. The following year, she returned to the medical comedy Scrubs, having previously played Dr. Kim Briggs in 2006. Additionally, she had a recurring role on the acclaimed series 30 Rock as conservative news commentator Avery Jessup, who becomes romantically involved with Alec Baldwin’s character, Jack Donaghy. Her performances earned her Emmy nominations in 2011 and 2012.
The Hunger Games Franchise In 2012, Banks showcased her versatility by appearing in six films, including People Like Us, The Details, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and Man on a Ledge. However, her most significant project that year was her role as Effie Trinket in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ bestselling series The Hunger Games. The film, featuring Jennifer Lawrence, showcased Banks as a Capitol representative characterized by her distinctive accent, vibrant wigs, dramatic makeup, and extravagant costumes. The film grossed over $690 million globally, leading to her involvement in its sequels, Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014), and Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015).
Recent Projects and Productions In 2014, Banks portrayed Melinda Ledbetter in the critically acclaimed biopic Love & Mercy, which chronicled the life of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. She also lent her voice to The Lego Movie during the same year. The following year, she appeared in Magic Mike XXL and received another Emmy nomination for her recurring role as Sal in the hit sitcom Modern Family. Banks revisited her character, Lindsay, in the Netflix miniseries Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015) and its sequel Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017).
Diverse Roles and Directorial Debut In 2017, Banks played the villainous Rita Repulsa in the latest adaptation of Power Rangers. The following year, she shared the screen with Melissa McCarthy in The Happytime Murders and returned to voice acting in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. That same year, she was prominently featured in Brightburn, portraying the mother of an alien child with extraordinary powers.
Production and Directing Ventures Beyond her on-screen work, Banks has also made significant contributions behind the scenes. She co-founded the production company Brownstone with her husband, Max Handelman, producing projects such as Surrogates (2009) and the Pitch Perfect trilogy (2012, 2015, and 2017), which centers around an all-female a cappella group starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson. Banks made her directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, which grossed approximately $285 million worldwide, more than doubling the earnings of its predecessor. Additionally, she directed and acted in the short film Just a Little Heart Attack as part of the Go Red for Women campaign, aimed at raising awareness about heart disease.
Film and Television Career Overview
Early Roles and Breakthroughs
After relocating from New York City to Los Angeles, Elizabeth Banks quickly established herself as a versatile actress with roles in a diverse range of genres, including comedy, drama, horror, and sci-fi/fantasy. She gained significant recognition with her performance in the cult classic Wet Hot American Summer (2001), followed by her portrayal of Betty Brant, the secretary at the Daily Bugle, in Spider-Man (2002). Later that year, she appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can as a bank employee. Banks continued to build her filmography with notable roles in The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Invincible (2006), Meet Bill (2008), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), and Definitely, Maybe (2008), alongside reprising her role as Betty Brant in the Spider-Man sequels released in 2004 and 2007.
Television Success
In 2008, Banks portrayed First Lady Laura Bush in Oliver Stone’s biopic W., which examined the life of George W. Bush. The following year, she returned to Scrubs to reprise her guest role as Dr. Kim Briggs, a character she first introduced in 2006. Additionally, she had a recurring role on 30 Rock as Avery Jessup, a conservative news commentator romantically linked to Alec Baldwin’s character, Jack Donaghy. Her performances garnered Emmy nominations in both 2011 and 2012.
The Hunger Games Phenomenon
In 2012, Banks showcased her range by appearing in six films, including People Like Us, The Details, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and Man on a Ledge. However, her most significant project that year was the adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ bestselling series, The Hunger Games. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, the film featured Banks as Effie Trinket, a Capitol representative known for her distinctive accent, vibrant wigs, and extravagant outfits. The film was a box office success, grossing over $690 million globally, leading to Banks’ involvement in the sequels Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014), and Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015).
Diverse Projects and Continued Acclaim
In 2014, Banks portrayed Melinda Ledbetter in the biopic Love & Mercy, chronicling the life of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. She also lent her voice to The Lego Movie, which received critical acclaim. In 2015, she appeared in Magic Mike XXL and earned another Emmy nomination for her recurring role on the hit sitcom Modern Family. Banks revisited her character Lindsay in the Netflix miniseries Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015) and Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017).
Recent Roles and Directorial Ventures
In 2017, Banks took on the role of the villainous Rita Repulsa in the reboot of Power Rangers. The following year, she starred alongside Melissa McCarthy in The Happytime Murders and returned to voice work in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. In 2019, she prominently featured in Brightburn as the mother of an alien child with destructive powers.
Banks has also made significant contributions behind the scenes. She co-founded the production company Brownstone with her husband, Max Handelman, producing films such as Surrogates (2009) and the Pitch Perfect series (2012, 2015, and 2017). She made her directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, which grossed approximately $285 million worldwide, significantly outperforming its predecessor. Additionally, Banks directed and acted in the short film Just a Little Heart Attack as part of the Go Red for Women campaign, raising awareness about heart disease.
Charlie’s Angels Reboot
In 2019, Banks took on multiple roles in the reboot of Charlie’s Angels, serving as co-writer, director, producer, and actress. The film starred Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska as the new generation of crime-fighting Angels. Despite a lackluster box office performance during its opening weekend, Banks expressed pride in the film’s outcome.
Personal Life
Elizabeth Banks married film producer and sportswriter Max Handelman in 2003. The couple has two sons, Felix and Magnus, both born via surrogate.