Elizabeth Banks: Biography, Career, Net Worth, Movies & TV Shows

Introduction

American actress Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks is a well-known American actress and filmmaker. Her journey in Hollywood began with her first movie, “Surrender Dorothy,” in 1998. Over the years, she’s become famous for roles like Effie Trinket in “The Hunger Games” series and as a commentator in the “Pitch Perfect” movies. Elizabeth Banks also stepped behind the camera, making a smashing directorial debut with “Pitch Perfect 2,” which was a big hit. She went on to direct other films like “Charlie’s Angels” and “Cocaine Bear.”

Banks didn’t start in big blockbusters. Her early days were in indie films, but she quickly moved up. She’s been in a bunch of movies you might have heard of, like “Spider-Man,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” and “Seabiscuit.”

Besides movies, Banks made a name for herself on TV. She had a memorable part in “30 Rock” as Avery Jessup, earning Emmy nods. She also popped up in shows like “Scrubs” and “Modern Family,” with the latter bringing her another Emmy nomination.

Elizabeth isn’t just about acting. She founded a production company with her husband in 2002, proving she’s also got skills. Whether she’s directing or producing, she’s making her mark in Hollywood.

Elizabeth Banks Biography
Name	Details
Net Worth	$50 Million
Birthdate	Feb 10, 1974 (50 years old, as of April 2024)
Birthplace	Pittsfield
Gender	Female
Height	5 ft 4 in (1.65 m)
Astrological Sign	Aquarius
Profession	Actor, Film Director, Film Producer and Voice Actor
Nationality	United States of America

Early Years

Elizabeth Banks Childhood

Elizabeth Banks grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts as the oldest of four kids in a traditional Irish Catholic family. Her dad was a war veteran who worked at General Electric, and her mom was a bank employee. Elizabeth had a pretty normal childhood filled with activities like playing baseball and horse riding. A memorable moment was when she broke her leg during a baseball game, which led her to explore acting through a school play.

After finishing high school in 1992, Elizabeth went on to study at the University of Pennsylvania. There, she was part of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and got involved in a prestigious society, graduating with honors in communications and theater arts in 1996. She further honed her acting skills at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, where she earned a Master’s in Fine Arts in 1998.

Elizabeth Banks Career Timeline By Wordle Magazine

Elizabeth Banks Career Timeline

Starting Out: 1998-2005

Elizabeth Banks kicked off her career with a bang in the indie film “Surrender Dorothy” back in 1998. Due to a name clash in the Screen Actors Guild, she changed her name from Elizabeth Mitchell. She had a chance to be in “Santa Barbara,” a soap opera but turned it down to finish her studies, a decision driven by her student loans. She got noticed in films like “Wet Hot American Summer” and “Seabiscuit,” but it was her role as Betty Brant in the “Spider-Man” trilogy that really got her noticed. Elizabeth and her then-boyfriend (now husband) Max Handelman started their production company, Brownstone Productions, in 2002. Her role in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” in 2005 brought her into the comedy spotlight and she also shined on stage in “Bus Stop” at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Rising Fame: 2006-2014

Elizabeth’s career took off with roles in films like “Invincible,” where she starred opposite Mark Wahlberg and the comedy-horror “Slither.” She continued to show her versatility in “Meet Bill,” “Fred Claus” and “Definitely, Maybe.” Elizabeth also portrayed First Lady Laura Bush in the biopic “W.” and appeared in the horror film “The Uninvited.” She’s known for working often with actors Paul Rudd and Tobey Maguire in multiple films.

A major TV role came with “30 Rock,” where she played Alec Baldwin’s love interest, earning her an Emmy nomination. She took on roles in “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” “Man on a Ledge” and the hit musical comedy “Pitch Perfect.”

Elizabeth’s portrayal of Effie Trinket in “The Hunger Games” series from 2012 to 2015 gained her huge recognition. She also voiced Wyldstyle in “The Lego Movie” and was honored by Elle Magazine for her contributions to film.

Directorial Debut and Beyond: 2015 Till Present

Elizabeth made her directorial debut with “Pitch Perfect 2” in 2015 with a huge success. She also played Brian Wilson’s wife in the biopic “Love & Mercy.” In 2016, she starred in the “Power Rangers” reboot as Rita Repulsa and appeared in “The Happytime Murders” in 2018. She returned as Wyldstyle in “The Lego Movie 2” and starred in “Brightburn” in 2019.

Instagram: Elizabeth Banks

She took on the role of host and executive producer for the game show revival “Press Your Luck” in 2019. Elizabeth also directed, produced and starred in the 2019 “Charlie’s Angels” reboot. She was part of the cast in the miniseries “Mrs. America” in 2020 and announced projects including “The Invisible Woman,” “The Magic School Bus,” and the thriller “Cocaine Bear.” In 2021, she’s set to direct and star in the “Red Queen” series and was cast in “The Beanie Bubble.” She’ll also be involved in the “Bedrock” series, voicing Pebbles Flintstone.

Elizabeth Banks Marriage

Elizabeth Banks met Max Handelman, a guy into sports writing and producing, on her very first day at college in 1992. They hit it off and eventually got married in 2003. The couple has two sons, both born through surrogacy.

Elizabeth Banks with Husband (Max Handelman)

Elizabeth explored Judaism, which is Max’s religion and got pretty involved with it. She learned from rabbis and started practicing Jewish traditions. Although she didn’t complete the full conversion process by 2013, she considers herself part of the Jewish community, having lived the faith in practice for about 15 years.

Elizabeth Banks’ Movies

1998: Started with “Surrender Dorothy” as Vicki, initially credited as Elizabeth Casey.
1999-2000: Appeared in “Uninvited” and “Shaft,” credited as Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell.
2001: Gained attention in “Wet Hot American Summer” and “Ordinary Sinner.”
2002-2003: Known for “Spider-Man” as Betty Brant and featured in “Seabiscuit.”
2004-2005: Continued with roles in “Spider-Man 2,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” and more.
2006-2007: Appeared in “Slither,” “Invincible” and “Spider-Man 3.”
2008: Had roles in “Definitely, Maybe,” “W.” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.”
2009-2011: Diverse roles in “The Uninvited,” “The Next Three Days,” and “Our Idiot Brother.”
2012: Became widely recognized as Effie Trinket in “The Hunger Games.”

Directorial and Production Roles

2012-2013: Produced “Pitch Perfect” and directed/produced “Movie 43.”
2015: Directed and produced “Pitch Perfect 2.”
2017-2019: Produced “Pitch Perfect 3” and directed/produced/wrote “Charlie’s Angels.”

Recent Work and Voice Roles

2019-2020: Voiced in “The Lego Movie 2” and appeared in “Brightburn” and “Charlie’s Angels.”
2022-2023: Starred in “Call Jane” and directed “Cocaine Bear.”

Elizabeth Banks TV Shows

1999: Had minor roles in “All My Children” and “Third Watch.”
2000: Guest-starred in “Sex and the City.”
2001: Appeared in “Law & Order: SVU.”
2002: Featured in “Without a Trace.”
2005: Played Tamara in “Stella.”
2006-2009: Known for her role as Dr. Kim Briggs on “Scrubs.”
2007-2008: Voiced characters in “American Dad!” and appeared in “Wainy Days.”
2008: Starred in “Comanche Moon.”
2009-2020: Recurring role as Sal in “Modern Family.”
2010-2012: Played Avery Jessup in “30 Rock.”
2012: Guest appearances in “Family Guy” and “Robot Chicken.”
2015: Returned as Lindsay for “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp.”
2017: Featured in “Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
2019-present: Hosting “Press Your Luck.”
2020: Acted in “Mrs. America” and appeared in “The Boys.”

Voice Roles

Voiced characters in shows like “Phineas and Ferb” and “Moonbeam City.”
Set to voice Pebbles Flintstone in the upcoming “Bedrock” series.

Executive Producing

2015-2021: Produced series like “Resident Advisors” and “Shrill.”
2019-present: Executive producer for “Press Your Luck.”
2022: Co-created and produced “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin.”

Elizabeth Banks has had a dynamic TV career, from early guest roles to notable parts in series like “30 Rock” and “Modern Family.” Besides acting, she’s also made significant contributions as an executive producer and voice actor in various projects.

Net Worth

Elizabeth Banks Net Worth

Elizabeth Banks is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry in the United States, with an impressive net worth of $50 million. She’s best known for her acting roles in popular films such as “Definitely Maybe,” “The Hunger Games” series, the “Pitch Perfect” series and the “Lego Movie” series, as well as “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” Beyond acting, Elizabeth has made a significant mark as a producer and director, especially with her work on the “Pitch Perfect” series and the reboot of “Charlie’s Angels” in 2019.