Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks
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Name	Elizabeth Banks
Caption	Banks at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con
Birth name	Elizabeth Irene Mares
Birth date	10 February 1974
Birth place	Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania (BA), American Conservatory Theater (MFA)
Occupation	Actress, director, producer
Spouse	Max Handelman, 2003

Elizabeth Banks is an American actress, director, and producer known for her versatile performances across comedy and drama. She gained widespread recognition for her role in the *Pitch Perfect* series and has since established herself as a significant force in Hollywood through her production company, Brownstone Productions. Banks has also directed major studio films, including *Pitch Perfect 2* and the 2019 reboot of *Charlie's Angels*, while earning critical acclaim for roles in projects like *The Hunger Games* series and *Love & Mercy*.

Early life and education

Elizabeth Irene Mares was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and raised in a working-class family; her mother worked for the Bank of New England and her father was a factory worker at General Electric. She attended Pittsfield High School where she was an active participant in school theater productions before enrolling at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, she double-majored in communications and theater arts, graduating magna cum laude, and was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She subsequently earned a Master of Fine Arts from the prestigious American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, training alongside future notable actors.

Career

Banks began her professional acting career with guest roles on television series such as *Sex and the City* and *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* before making her film debut in the independent drama *Surrender Dorothy*. Her breakthrough came with a supporting role in Sam Raimi's *Spider-Man* trilogy, playing Betty Brant. She later showcased her comedic talents in films like *The 40-Year-Old Virgin*, *Zack and Miri Make a Porno*, and the *Pitch Perfect* franchise, where she also served as a producer. Dramatic turns in *The Hunger Games* series as Effie Trinket and as Melinda Ledbetter in the Brian Wilson biopic *Love & Mercy* demonstrated her range. In 2015, she made her feature directorial debut with *Pitch Perfect 2*, which became the highest-grossing film directed by a woman at the time, and later directed and produced the 2019 *Charlie's Angels* reboot. Through Brownstone Productions, she has produced numerous projects, including the **Pitch Perfect* films and the Academy Award-nominated *The Lego Movie*.

Personal life

Banks married sports writer and producer Max Handelman in 2003 after meeting him at the University of Pennsylvania; the couple are co-founders of Brownstone Productions. They have two sons, born via gestational surrogacy in 2011 and 2012. An active philanthropist, she supports organizations such as the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and the Trevor Project, and has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and LGBTQ equality. She resides primarily in Los Angeles and is a noted fan of Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox.

Filmography

A selected filmography includes *Spider-Man* (2002), *The 40-Year-Old Virgin* (2005), *Zack and Miri Make a Porno* (2008), *The Hunger Games* (2012), *Pitch Perfect* (2012), *Love & Mercy* (2014), *Pitch Perfect 2* (2015) as director, *The Lego Movie* (2014) as producer, *Charlie's Angels* (2019) as director and producer, and *Call Jane* (2022). Notable television work includes recurring roles on *Scrubs* and *30 Rock*, and the Peacock series *The Resort*.

Awards and nominations

Banks has received numerous accolades, including nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role on *Modern Family* and a Critics' Choice Movie Award for *Love & Mercy*. She won a MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Moment for *Pitch Perfect* and a Teen Choice Award for *The Hunger Games: Catching Fire*. Her production work on *The Lego Movie* earned nominations from the Academy Awards and the BAFTAs. She has also been honored with awards from organizations like GLAAD for her advocacy.