Don't Let Her Winsome Laugh Deceive You. Elizabeth Banksis a Star to Be Reckoned With, in Front Of

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K S AA.COM/AMERICANWAY Q BANKS: MATTHIAS VRIENS-MCGRATH/TRUNK ARCHIVE; CHIPS: GETTY IMAGES Before Before Man Brownstone Drive sounded much fancier than Brown Street.” Brown than fancier much sounded Drive Brownstone Mass. Pittsfield, working-class in Street Brown from Mitchell Elizabeth was Banks Elizabeth who also lived on Brown Street — and I told people we lived at 10300 Brownstone Drive,” Drive,” Brownstone at 10300 lived we people Itold —and Street on Brown lived also who the classically trained actress has repeatedly demonstrated sizable comedic and dramatic dramatic and comedic sizable demonstrated repeatedly has actress trained classically the ing, a decade ago as the giggly bank teller in Steven Spielberg’s Spielberg’s Steven in teller bank giggly the as ago adecade ing, she says. “Because rich people had five numbers in their address and we had only three, and and three, had only we and address their in numbers five had people rich “Because says. she As it turns out, Banks now has five numbers in her address. She entered Hollywood, laugh Hollywood, She entered in heraddress. numbers five has now Banks out, it turns As Growing up, young Elizabeth didn’t particularly care for her address. “My girlfriend — girlfriend “My for her address. care particularly didn’t Elizabeth up, young Growing films, and even before she was Banks (as close friends call her), the actress known as as known her),actress the call friends close (as Banks was she before even and films, Game ueen Elizabeth Banks Elizabeth Don’t let herwinsome By Rattini Kristin Baird the camera. the with, bereckoned to in front of — and behind — behind — —and of in front laugh deceive you. you. deceive laugh Bush in Bush film film she was Effie Trinket in the current blockbuster blockbuster current the in Trinket Effie was she AA.COM/AMERICANWAY The HungerGames, The W . or Betty Brant in the three three the in Brant . or Betty Catch Me IfCatch You Can f o

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- APRIL 01, 2012 01, APRIL 37 38 Jennifer Lawrence) and RIGHT Jeff Bridges), Bridges), Jeff in in Man on aLedge on Man in ( in (with Alan Alda and and Alda Alan (with The versatile Banks Banks versatile The ( The Hunger Games Sam Worthington)Sam ABOVE LEFT Alec Baldwin) and BELOW, LEFT TO TO LEFT BELOW, ) Seabiscuit APRIL 01, 2012 01, APRIL 30 Rock (with (with , with

It’s It’s Movie 43 Movie ( Mickey Rapkin’s nonfiction book, the comedy explores explores comedy the book, nonfiction Rapkin’s Mickey of production Brownstone’s Productions. Brownstone Banks: watch them blossom and commit. They have to sing and and sing to have They commit. and blossom them watch the Air the joy,” Banks says. “We have all these amazing young peo young amazing these all have “We says. joy,” Banks coast along though, the 38-year-old star is also fostering fostering also is star 38-year-old the though, along coast talents, and, after after and, talents, the world of competitive college a cappella groups. Film groups. acappella college world of competitive the a cozy bistro in Baton Rouge, La. For two months, she she months, For two La. Rouge, Baton in bistro a cozy ing wraps in two days, and farewell tweets have been been have tweets farewell and days, two in wraps ing in roles ing ment her status as a leading lady. Not comfortable to just just to lady. Not comfortable aleading as ment her status ple who are at the start of their careers. It is so fun to to fun It so is careers. of their start at the are ple who oversee to capital Louisiana the in on location been has all clearly, is name, together, but its company production own their launched recently Handelman Max husband and producer. She and director a budding as her talents sits down to a late lunch at Beausoleil Restaurant & Bar, &Bar, Restaurant at Beausoleil lunch alate to down sits flying furiously among the 20-something cast mem cast 20-something the among furiously flying bers, particularly top-billers Anna Kendrick ( Kendrick Anna top-billers particularly bers, Bridesmaids “I’ve been crying a lot this last week, out of pride and and out of pride week, last alot this crying been “I’ve ), Brittany Snow Snow ( ), Brittany , both out this spring, she will undoubtedly ce undoubtedly will she spring, out this , both What to Expect When You’re Expecting When to Expect What ). The Hunger Games Games Hunger The day), so Banks is dressed casually casually dressed is day), Banks so a production day (read: off-camera off-camera (read: day a production in a gray sweater and scarf as she as scarf and sweater agray in AA.COM/AMERICANWAY Hairspray Pitch Perfect ) and Rebel Wilson Wilson Rebel ) and and her upcom and . Adapted from from . Adapted Up in in Up and and - - - - - (and counting) to the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, of Panem, nation post-apocalyptic the to (and counting) Gary Ross. As the director of 2003’s of 2003’s director the As Ross. Gary Games.” Hunger “happy for the Capitol Banks in her first significant dramatic film role: Mar role: film dramatic significant her first in Banks fine line. She is mentoring her tributes and pulling for and pulling tributes her is mentoring She line. fine where the country’s 12 districts must each select one boy one boy select each must districts 12 country’s the where vised death match. Banks plays Effie Trinket, a bubbly bubbly a Trinket, Effie plays Banks match. death vised character as well as, if not better than, I did,” Ross says. says. Ross Idid,” than, not better if as, well as character this understood meshe to clear was “It choice. obvious the forto lobby Ross emailed (Jeffowner Bridges). Banks of Seabiscuit’s wife supportive elegant, the Howard, cela by directed be would film the learned she when deed, a very walks Effie on. going more much there’s so course them on one level. On another level she is essentially a a essentially is she level another On on onethem level. [angers] the leadership, she could lose everything, even even everything, lose could she [angers] leadership, the Suzanne Collins’ novel has introduced 16 million readers readers 16 million introduced has novel Collins’ Suzanne and fell for Effie immediately. “Effie could be reduced reduced be could “Effie immediately. for Effie fell and the to them escorts —and characters main the Peeta, and se who chaperone pink-coiffed oblivious seemingly and tele annual an in compete to “tributes” as one girl and liberties in life are given with strings attached. If she If attached. strings with given are life in liberties — 12 District from tributes teenage two the lects role of Effie, and after auditioning, he knew she was the the was she knew he auditioning, after and of Effie, role fear.” and ambition both by motivated her life. I was fascinated by playing someone who is so so is who someone playing by fascinated Iwas her life. her all understands and regime for atotalitarian puppet simply to comic relief,” she says. “She is funny, but of funny, is “She says. she relief,” comic to simply It became a very happy happy avery It became Banks read the book before it became a best-seller a best-seller it became before book the read Banks … well, until further notice, especially now especially notice, further until … well, Breaking Bad Breaking 2011. While her young her young While 2011. I’m like a proud mom, a super-proud mom.” asuper-proud mom, aproud I’m like overdelivered. They’ve It alot of pressure. is with some books and a season’s worth of worth a season’s and books some with of of happy into revelry their continued often funny. be and act to have all they and dance, that the highly anticipated film adaptation adaptation film anticipated highly the that March in arrived Felix, her son, since tion it,” she says. she it,” mom. mom. how I’ve evolved, and how much I don’t miss Idon’t much how miss and evolved, I’ve how on now is focus Banks’ beyond, and hour sleep and Felix time. “It’s interesting to see see to “It’s interesting time. Felix and sleep The Hunger Games The What she does miss is time to cozy up cozy to time is miss does she What Not to mention a super-busy working working mentionNot asuper-busy to Pitch Perfect Perfect Pitch . But that will have to wait until until wait to have will that . But Hunger Games Hunger is Banks’ first produc first Banks’ is has finally hit theaters. theaters. hit finally has Pitch Perfect Seabiscuit for Banks, in for Banks, , Ross cast cast , Ross cast has Katniss Katniss - - - - -

TOP: MURRAY CLOSE; LEFT TO RIGHT: EVERETT COLLECTION (2); MYLES ARONOWITZ/SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

SETH OLENICK/CORBIS OUTLINE AA.COM/AMERICANWAY to making people people making to “I am addicted amaddicted “I laugh.” APRIL 01, 2012 01, APRIL

39 Who’s That Girl? That Who’s “And I had just written the screenplay!” the written just “And Ihad Mame 40 Rosalind Russell in the 1958 film film 1958 the in Russell Rosalind of voices before settling on amid-Atlantic/ settling before of voices out a chorus tried Banks districts. outlying the Capitol accent sounds to people in the the in people to sounds accent Capitol the about what Rosalind Russell does in that that in does Russell Rosalind what about ridiculous and of howpretentious a point until shoes pointy painfully Effie’s in able she perfected her voice. The novel makes makes novel The her voice. perfected she faux British accent that was an homage to to homage an was that accent British faux Still, Banks wasn’t completely comfort completely wasn’t Banks Still, . “There’s something very theatrical theatrical very something . “There’s APRIL 01, 2012 01, APRIL Auntie Auntie - Auntie Mame,” she says. “I wanted all those those all wanted “I says. she Mame,” Auntie W. You’re Expecting When Expect to What People to Welcome The Hunger Games Hunger The The Uninvited The Days Three Next The Our Idiot Brother Idiot Our Pitch Perfect Fred Claus Fred Models Role Lovely, Still Definitely, Maybe Invincible Meet Bill Meet Meet Dave 43 Movie aLedge on Man Slither Spider-Man 3 AA.COM/AMERICANWAY Zack and Miri Make aPorno Make Miri and Zack jumped right into Effie’s biggest scene: the scene: Effie’sbiggest into right jumped clear her first day of shooting, when she when of shooting, day her first clear things in the voice.” the in things acter come to life,” Ross says. “Liz brought a a brought “Liz says. Ross life,” to come acter nuance and subtlety to it; at the same time time same at the it; to subtlety and nuance was there stage, on that stand and makeup trib 12 District of the or selection, reaping, in of desperation atinge There’s also movie. utes. “When I saw her come out of hair and and her out come of hair Isaw “When utes. such an amazing jolt I got at seeing that char that jolt I got at seeing amazing an such 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Banks’ voice came through loud and through came voice Banks’ in the upcoming upcoming the in (acting and directing) (producing) Banks (left) and Brooklyn Decker You’re Expecting What to Expect When When Expect to What 2012 might be a big year for for year abig be might 2012 Here’s a past, present and future recap: been watching her on the silver screen for more than a decade. adecade. than more for screen silver the on her watching been , due out in May in out , due - - “She’s got one of those start-in-the-knees start-in-the-knees one got “She’s those of she laugh,” people making to addicted am “I Woody involved with exchange first “My Avery but Miri, from Kevin Smith’s comedy Smith’s comedy Kevin from but Miri, Avery The Trade The Sisters The Baxter The Virgin 40-Year-Old The Catch Me If YouCatch Can Heights Daltry Calhoun Zach and Miri Make a Porno Make Miri and Zach Woody Harrelson. His character, Haymitch, Haymitch, character, His Woody Harrelson. Swept Away Swept Spider-Man Seabiscuit Spider-Man 2 Life Sexual 2011 — Outstanding Guest Actress in aCom in Actress Guest —Outstanding 2011 vative talk-show host Avery Jessup-Donaghy Jessup-Donaghy Avery host talk-show vative enough to make viewers roll in the aisles. aisles. the in roll viewers make to enough co-star with her repartee in too, camera, on on conser as role —for her recurring Series edy the mere sound of her wide-eyed laugh is laugh of her wide-eyed sound mere the admits. In several of her best performances, performances, of her best several In admits. and thinks it’s dirty,” she says. “But it’s a “But says. she it’s dirty,” thinks and in what setting it’s heard, or howloud it is,” it’s heard, setting what in relationship,” Banks says with a chuckle. achuckle. with says Banks relationship,” kind of laughs that doesn’t care where or where care doesn’t that of laughs kind laugh.” him pretty overlooked. Everyone hears ‘porno’ ‘porno’ hears Everyone overlooked. pretty serious. I took a lot of pride in trying to make make to trying in alot of pride Itook serious. very also and silly very be both We can start. great to a off were we so jokes, some off-color skills.” comedic her incredible all brought she says friend and frequent co-star Paul Rudd. Rudd. Paul co-star frequent and friend says frequently infuriates Effie with his drunken drunken his with Effie infuriates frequently behavior. “Woody and I have a very special special avery Ihave and “Woody behavior. 2002 2003 2004 2005 After all, laughter is what Banks does best. best. does Banks what is laughter all, After 30 Rock 30 Banks put those comedic skills to use off- use to skills comedic put those Banks Banks earned an Emmy nomination in in nomination Emmy an earned Banks ELIZABETH BANKS ELIZABETH . Yet her favorite role (so far) is not . Yet not (so is role far) her favorite

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MELISSA MOSELEY; GETTY IMAGES; EVERETT COLLECTION; PAVEL HAVLICEK/CHILLI MEDIA NOW YOU KNOW: Banks changed her last name ELIZABETH BANKS to avoid confusion with Lost’s Elizabeth Mitchell.

really sweet movie. That character took ad- altogether different journey: She plays one “As I was reading the script, I thought one of the nine comedy shorts that comprise She is the girl power of that whole dynasty.” were college sweethearts at the University vantage of all the things I’m good at: being of five expectant mothers in the ensemble it was okay; I was going along for the ride,” the Farrelly Brothers’ star-studded Movie And, of course, there’s Pitch Perfect. “We of Pennsylvania. She met him her first day funny, being vulnerable, being in love. We all comedy What to Expect When You’re Expect- Banks recalls. “I really liked my character. 43. Her segment is a coming-of-age tale keep saying production wraps on Friday, but on campus — the day she left Brown Street remember the moment when you are friends ing. Her character, Wendy, is the author of a Then I got to the end and just bawled my that follows a middle-school girl (played by we will live with the movie for many more behind. with someone and then decide to be more children’s book about breast-feeding whose eyes out. It was just one of those super-feel- Chloë Grace Moretz) on a date after school. months and birth it into the world,” Banks than friends. I loved telling that story and rigid assumptions about pregnancy and good movies: Everyone gets a baby at the end (She will also star in one of the shorts, a seg- says. The two months on location at Loui- Freelance writer KRISTIN BAIRD RATTINI lives near St. Louis. She is a frequent American Way contributor and being on that journey again in my life.” parenthood get upended when she becomes of the movie — hooray! I read a lot of films ment written and directed by James Gunn, siana State University brought back fond has profiled Jane Lynch, Steve Zahn and many others In May, Banks will take audiences on an pregnant for the first time. that don’t have third acts. The writers on who directed Banks in the film Slither.) memories for Banks and Handelman, who for the magazine. this did a really nice job of weaving together “I think there is a place for homegrown everything and tying it up in a sweet and humor,” Banks says, citing directors Woody satisfying way.” Allen, James L. Brooks and Nancy Meyers As satisfying as Banks’ comedic success as role models. “I’m not a huge slapstick, has been, there’s a catch to being known as physical-comedy kind of director. But I do a funny girl. Whenever she tackles a dra- love seeing people make absolute [idiots] of matic role — as in Man on a Ledge or The Next themselves. I think everyone is fairly enter- Three Days with Russell Crowe — the media tained by that.” seem completely surprised, and they marvel After her spring film trifecta, what’s on anew at her versatility. “It’s like Groundhog the horizon for Banks? Hunger Games fans Day,” she says. “I have had this same moment over and over. The great thing is that no one “It’s like Groundhog Day. knows what to do with me.” I have had this same Rest assured, Banks knows: She intends moment over and over. to spend more time behind the camera. The great thing is that “Someone once told me that if you want to no one knows direct, just do it,” she recalls. So she has. She what to do with me.” cut her directing teeth last fall with a humor- ous public-service short, “Just a Little Heart are already talking about the sequel, Catch- Attack,” for the American Heart Association. ing Fire, slated for a November 2013 release. And this month she is making her big-screen Banks will reunite with the cast, Harrelson directorial debut, helming the camera for included, and with Ross, who has already signed on to direct. “It’s always comforting to go into a project with trust, and [Ross] is someone I trust wholeheartedly,” she says. “As a storyteller, he is fantastic.” For Ross, the admiration is mutual. “She has grown into such a wildly funny, ac- complished, sophisticated actress,” he says. “There aren’t that many actresses who have her comic chops in the world. There aren’t a lot of funny people who are completely au- thentic and real in every moment, and that is what makes Elizabeth special.” Off-camera, Banks’ Brownstone duties will keep her busy as well. “I love acting. I have no plans to give up on my acting career; it’s very fulfilling on a lot of levels,” she says. “But as an actor, you come into the process at the end. You are the finishing touch. As a producer, you get to herald a movie through the process and out into the world.”

DANIELE VENTURELLI/GETTY IMAGES DANIELE Brownstone has several projects it’s trying to usher to the big screen, includ- ing a workplace comedy called Forever 21 and the live-action film Tink, in which Banks would star as Disney’s famous fairy. Banks with husband Max Handelman at the “Tinker Bell is such a great character,” 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival in 2009 she says. “She’s sassy and has a lot of will.

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