Elizabeth Banks was born on February 10, 1974, in Pittsfield, a small city in western Massachusetts. Her parents, Ann Wallace, a bank employee, and Mark P. Mitchell, a factory worker, have played significant roles in her life.
Her childhood was filled with horses, athletics, and even a nomination for the local Harvest Queen. While playing baseball as a child, Elizabeth broke her leg sliding into third base and was prevented from playing sports for a while.
During that time, she decided to try her hand at acting, and she auditioned for the school play. Even in college, she was often called a “goody-two-shoes,” even though she is quoted as saying, “… every goody-two-shoes has a bad side.”
Elizabeth Banks made her acting debut in the black and white 1998 independent film Surrender Dorothy (Credit: TLA Releasing)
Elizabeth graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in communications.
She attended acting school at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California, where she was placed in the Advanced Training Program.
In 1996, Banks graduated with a master’s in fine arts. Shortly after, she moved to New York City to work in theater. During this time, she also collected some minor acting roles in film and television.
Actress Elizabeth Banks attends the 2002 MTV Movie Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on June 1, 2002, in Los Angeles (Credit: WENN)
Her breakout role was in Spider-Man, where she played Betty Brant, a secretary for a newspaper tycoon.
Elizabeth Banks has drawn the attention of many throughout her career, having been compared to Audrey Hepburn for her charming screen presence. Her acting has taken on various roles and film genres, ranging from comedy to horror.
Elizabeth Banks has also lent her voice to the celebrated Lego Movies and appeared in recurring roles on television series such as Scrubs and 30 Rock.
Banks’s birth name was Elizabeth Mitchell. She later changed her name to Elizabeth Banks to distinguish herself from actress Elizabeth Mitchell, who was already registered in the Screen Actors Guild.
Elizabeth Banks is more than just an actress; she is a director, producer, and business owner. Her 2015 directing debut with Pitch Perfect 2 exceeded expectations and put her in a league of rare women in film.
Elizabeth Banks had a recurring role as Avery Jessup on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock (Credit: NBC)
She co-founded Brownstone Productions with her husband, Max Handelman. The film and television production company has deals with almost every major studio and upcoming projects in both film and television.
Banks also founded an online platform for female comedians called WoHaha, which shows her entrepreneurial spirit. She seeks to empower and elevate funny female creators.
Below is a list of Elizabeth Banks’ Top 10 Movies, according to the critics at Rotten Tomatoes.
Definitely, Maybe (2008) – 70%
In this romantic comedy, Elizabeth Banks, at age 34, plays the character of Emily. The film follows a father who shares three stories with his daughter, each about a different woman from his past.
Actress Elizabeth Banks flaunts her legs at the premiere of Definitely, Maybe at the Ziegfeld Theater on February 12, 2008, in New York City (Credit: PNP / WENN)
The stories are about the complicated mess of his love life before she was born. The father changes the women’s names in his stories so that his daughter has limited clues about which storyline is about her mother.
Emily is the father’s college sweetheart, but a series of complicated events—and an affair—break their love. Though the girl learns that Emily is her mother, she discovers that her father loves one of the other women more.
Elizabeth Banks shows off her size 7 (US) feet in high heels (Credit: PNP / WENN)
Critics have called it an intelligent script that is emotionally resonant and satisfying. The movie was released to theaters on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2008, just four days after she celebrated her 34th birthday on February 10, 2008.
Invincible (2006) – 72%
Based on the true story of Vince Papale, ‘Invincible’ is a classic underdog tale. Elizabeth Banks portrays Janet Papale, the supportive wife of the main character.
The main character becomes one of the oldest rookies in NFL history after trying out and earning a spot on his favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Elizabeth Banks and her husband Maz Handelman at the premiere of Invincible on August 23, 2006, at The Ziegfeld Theater in New York City (Credit: PNP / WENN)
In the film, Janet is a bartender who meets Vince Papale at the bar where he used to work. At age 32, Elizabeth Banks was one of the few women on set, as the cast was predominantly male.
The movie was released on August 25, 2006, in theaters and received a score of 72% from Rotten Tomatoes. Since the movie is based on real people, Elizabeth Banks had the opportunity to meet Janet Papale. The real Janet consulted on the character and wanted to approve her portrayal, noting that several creative liberties had been taken.
“[S]he’s appraising me and she’s like, ‘Alright, okay. This is going to work. I mean you don’t really do it in the boob department.’ That’s the first thing she said to me,” Banks told the Chicago Tribune about Papale.
“I thought ‘Alright I like this lady.’ She is so feisty, you know. She’s a spark plug. She really is. She’s a spark plug. She’s great and that’s what I try to do in the movie is just have that sense of sass and be a little feisty and she really keeps Vince on his toes. They have a great relationship. They are so supportive of each other. Exactly what you’d want in a marriage. I hope I got that sense of her essence up there.”
Lovely, Still (2008) – 73%
Elizabeth Banks plays the character of Alex in ‘Lovely, Still,’ a heartwarming holiday story about late-in-life love. The film centers on two older individuals finding love, with one being new to romance and the other guiding him along the way.
Elizabeth Banks as Alex in the 2008 American romantic drama film Lovely, Still (Credit: North Sea Films)
Alex, played by Elizabeth Banks, is the main character’s daughter determined to involve him in a new relationship. The film beautifully explores the challenges of aging and love.
The movie received a score of 77% from critics and 75% from audiences. It had a limited release on November 13, 2009, and became available for streaming on September 13, 2010.
Seabiscuit (2003) – 77%
In this Oscar-nominated film, Elizabeth Banks plays a spectacular supporting role. She is the wife of Seabiscuit’s owner, and her presence is a soothing and gentling force for her husband’s demons.
Her encouragement is a source of strength for the whole team involved. The New York Times raved that Elizabeth Banks has the grace and charm of an actress from Old Hollywood.
Elizabeth Banks as Marcela Zabala-Howard in the 2003 American sports film Seabiscuit (Credit: DreamWorks Pictures)
The movie received a rating of 77% from Rotten Tomatoes and was released on July 25, 2003, when Elizabeth Banks was 29 years old.
Elizabeth Banks is no stranger to horses or the track. As a girl, she rode horses in Girl Scouts and took dressage lessons in the winter, when it was more affordable, as her parents were working-class Americans. When she was ten, she started learning how to place bets on ponies and had her dad place bets on her behalf.
Role Models (2008) – 77%
Elizabeth Banks, age 34, plays Beth, the girlfriend of one of the main characters.
When the movie begins, she and her boyfriend are in a rough place, and their fight is the catalyst for significant trouble and comedy that lands him and his buddy in deep water.
Paul Rudd as Danny and Elizabeth Banks as Beth in the 2008 American comedy film Role Models (Credit: Universal Pictures)
As she is the only lawyer her boyfriend knows, she is the one he must turn to to stay out of jail. Role Models is a hilarious comedy that received a Rotten Tomato score of 77%. It was released in theaters on November 7, 2008.
Pitch Perfect (2015) – 81%
Known for its excellent musical numbers and performances, Elizabeth Banks plays Gail, a commentator for the acapella singing competitions. She is one of a pair of critics who delivers harsh, clueless, and yet hilarious critiques of the singers.
She tends to speak whatever is on her mind, which would most likely get her fired if aired on television.
The first Pitch Perfect movie earned an 81% score from critics, while Pitch Perfect 2 earned a 65% score. The film and its sequel were released on October 5, 2012, and May 15, 2015.
Elizabeth Banks and her husband, Max Handelman, arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Pitch Perfect’ at ArcLight Hollywood on September 24, 2012, in Hollywood, California (Credit: Starbux / WENN)
Though she played a minor role in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, Elizabeth Banks did more than act. For Pitch Perfect 2, she took on the roles of director and producer for her debut performances.
The movie exceeded expectations when it earned $285 million globally. She opted out of directing the third installment of Pitch Perfect, citing conflict with parental duties.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) – 85%
Though she only had a small role in the movie, Elizabeth Banks, age 31, established herself as a comedic actress and one to watch. She plays Beth, a bookstore clerk who flirts with the main character, Andy.
Her character is fun-loving and extroverted, which is too much for Andy. She played an unforgettable character that charmed audiences and made her memorable beyond the big screen.
Steve Carell as Andy Stitzer and Elizabeth Banks as Beth in the 2005 American romantic comedy film The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Credit: Universal Pictures)
The movie received a score of 85% and was released in theaters on August 19, 2005, when the actress Elizabeth Banks was 31 years old.
Slither (2006) – 87%
In this gory horror-comedy / sci-fi film Slither, Elizabeth Banks plays the role of Starla Grant – who, even though married, the local Sheriff has a crush on her. When a meteorite lands outside of town, aliens come out of the meteorite and invade the city.
The aliens take over the bodies of townspeople by crawling down their throats, turning them into creatures who keep their human memories but have a craving for raw meat. The aliens take over Starla’s husband, and the Sheriff tries to save her.
Schoolteacher Starla Grant (Elizabeth Banks) cautiously approaches her husband Grant Grant (Michael Rooker) in the 2006 American science-fiction black comedy horror film Slither (Credit: Universal Pictures)
Not just a damsel in distress, Starla shoots her alien-possessed, flammable-gas-filled husband, and he explodes, killing the rest of the aliens with him.
Even though it is a low-budget film that is highly unusual and a little bizarre, it grew in popularity, eventually becoming a cult classic among horror/comedy fans. The movie was released on March 31, 2006, when Elizabeth Banks was 32 years old, and received a score of 87%.
Love & Mercy (2014) – 89%
Love and Mercy is a biographical drama based on the life of the Beach Boys founder, Brian Wilson, and it explores a great artist’s mental world and artistic methods.
Elizabeth Banks, age 40, plays Melinda, another role in which she plays a real-life person whom she gets to meet in real life. Melinda is a Cadillac car saleswoman who meets the now-famous Brian Wilson.
As their relationship progresses, she becomes disturbed by the therapist’s power over Wilson. Her actions pave the way for Brian to break free from the therapist’s control and find new and healthier forms of treatment. The two later meet and marry.
Elizabeth Banks as Melinda Ledbetter and John Cusack as Brian–Future watching the sunset while filming a scene for the 2014 American biographical drama film Love & Mercy at Griffith Park in Los Angeles on August 19, 2013 (Credit: Cousart / JFXimages / WENN)
Elizabeth Banks said there was some freedom in playing the role because the real Melinda was honest about the fact that her memories are impressions and that her recollections would not be exact after over 20 years passed between 2014 and the time that the movie features.
Banks’ acting was, therefore, another form of impression of real-life events. Melinda was not as well-known as some of her other roles, but Banks could still do some private research that helped her develop the character.
Elizabeth Banks said it was validating that both Melinda and her friends felt that Banks did a “Great job” in her role of Melinda.
The Hunger Games (2012-2015) – 90%
Elizabeth Banks plays the iconic character of Effie Trinket, the effervescent District 12 advisor and escort who helps prepare Katniss and Peeta for The Hunger Games.
Effie Trinket is a cruel, out-of-touch television star who delivers long-winded speeches in a violent dystopian world with bizarre, outlandish, and over-the-top costumes and makeup. Her role in the dystopian world was to announce the tributes for The Hunger Games.
True Hunger Games book fans will recognize that Effie did not have quite as significant of a role in the books, but with Banks bringing the character to life, the role and character were expanded as the films progressed.
Actress Elizabeth Banks arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere of “The Hunger Games” at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on March 12, 2012, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: WENN / FayesVision)
The actress, who was 38 in the first film, is a self-proclaimed fan of The Hunger Games series and reached out to play the role. Her love of the series, with her knowledge and enthusiasm, helped make her a top pick for the character of Effie Trinket.
Elizabeth Banks mentioned that the long nails were the most challenging aspect of playing Effie Trinket. Due to the cumbersome nails, she needed assistance with everything, including basic tasks like going to the bathroom.
The Hunger Games trilogy franchise scored 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. The first movie, The Hunger Games, was released in theaters on March 23, 2012.
Glitz and Glamour at the Premiere: Elizabeth Banks Shines in Balmain at ‘Magic Mike XXL
Elizabeth Banks wears Eva Fehren earrings (Credit: Brian To / WENN)
In June 2015, Elizabeth Banks looked lovely in yellow while attending the “Magic Mike XXL” premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood. She was joined by her co-stars Amber Heard, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Andie MacDowell.
Elizabeth Banks at the premiere of “Magic Mike XXL” held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood on June 25, 2015 (Credit: Brian To / WENN)
The then-41-year-old American actress, producer, and director donned a stunning Swarovski-embellished dress from the Balmain Spring 2015 collection, which featured sheer inserts.
Elizabeth Banks went commando in a Balmain Swarovski-embellished dress (Credit: Brian To / WENN / FayesVision)
She styled the edgy halter-neck dress with a Lee Savage clutch, Eva Fehren earrings, and an unflattering pair of Pedro Garcia pumps that looked too big.
Elizabeth Banks showed off her hot feet in black shoes (Credit: WENN)
Do you think her dress was tacky, or do you love it? We wish she had paired the figure-hugging dress with sandals instead of black pumps.