Elizabeth Banks

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

February 10, 1974 · Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA

Birth name

Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell

Elizabeth Banks is an American actress, director, producer, and comedian. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and earning an MFA from the American Conservatory Theater, she launched a career that quickly showcased her range and sharp comic timing. She gained wide recognition in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and achieved international fame as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games series. Banks made her directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, which set a box-office record for a first-time filmmaker, and has continued to establish herself as a creative force behind the camera through her company, Brownstone Productions. Honored with multiple Emmy nominations and widely respected for her versatility, she has also expanded her reach as host and producer of Press Your Luck. With a career that bridges performance, direction, and production, Banks stands among the most dynamic figures in contemporary Hollywood.