128 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10 2019

Elizabeth Banks (far right) with her Charlie’s Angels co-stars (from left) Naomi Scott, Kristen Scott and Ella Balinska.

A PIECE OF THE ACTION

Elizabeth Banks is challenging one of Hollywood’s strongest stereotypes, writes Tiffany Bakker

merican director and “So the idea of being able to watch genre. So even though those are actor Elizabeth Banks is professional women who were movies about women, they put them unashamed in her love of beautiful, aspirational and doing a in the context of feeding the larger Australians. job that men typically do, I knew comic book world, so it’s all about, “Two of my favourite all of those things were kind of yes, you’re watching a Wonder people are Rebel revolutionary when I was watching Woman movie but we’re setting up (Wilson) and Ruby that show.” three other characters or we’re (Rose),” gushes Banks, The revolution, however, hadn’t setting up Justice League.” Awho worked with the two Aussies on crossed generations. When she sat She pauses, as if she’s said too the hit Pitch Perfect series. down with Stewart, Scott and much. “Rebel is funny — just Balinski, prior to filming, she had to “By the way, I’m happy for those comedically, a genius. There’s give them something of a television characters to have box-office success, absolutely no one like her, and she’s history lesson. but we need more women’s voices opened doors for body positivity in “The actresses in the movie had Hollywood, without doubt,” Banks NO IDEA what the TV show was,” tells Insider at a mid-town hotel in laughs Banks, eyebrows raised. New York. “So I had to be like, OK, here’s “If this movie “And Ruby is just so kick-ass … who Farrah Fawcett is, here’s who I just want to watch her kick-ass. I Jaclyn Smith is — they basically had doesn’t make loved her in the John Wick movie and no idea.” I am so excited to see her in Still, the Angels legacy runs deep. money it reinforces Batwoman — I think she’s perfect! Drew Barrymore is an executive that men don’t go Also, she has a real sense of self, which producer. (“Very hands off,” Banks I think is very empowering for people.” says. “Not in a bad way. More in a see women do Rose, it must be said, wouldn’t Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket (centre) with Josh Hutcherson and ‘make it your own’ way!”) look out of place in Banks’ new Jennifer Lawrence in a scene from The Hunger Games. And Jaclyn Smith surprised the action movies. iteration of Charlie’s Angels, which cast and crew by visiting the set. stars Kristen Stewart and two relative with her. This, as far as these about women working together,” Banks cried. supported with money because that’s unknowns, Naomi Scott and Ella managed-to-within-an-inch-of-their- she muses. “You want to watch “I really feel like I wouldn’t be the power. The power is in the Balinska, in the title roles. lives Hollywood interviews go, is them go under cover, be fabulous, here making this movie if she hadn’t money,” she finishes. Banks, who says the film is not a unheard of. live their best lives, and just work been a part of (the show) and it As such, Banks sees herself reboot, but a “continuation” of the But Banks likes to do things together, and Charlie’s Angels hadn’t been as iconic as it was and the continuing the legacy of famed 1970s TV show and the wildly her way. represents that. It’s just built into the idea that we were keeping the legacy actor-directors like Warren Beatty, popular Drew Barrymore- Despite a successful acting career DNA of it. So as a producer and a of it alive this far into the future, it Robert Redford, Jodie Foster and Cameron Diaz-Lucy Liu films in films such as The Hunger businesswoman, it’s much easier was all very emotional, very special.” Penny Marshall. of the early 2000s, wrote, Games (as Effie Trinket), getting the green light than writing Still, the director is aware that, in an “All those people realised they directed and produced the Magic Mike XXL, W. (as my own action movie starring a age of streaming, “getting people off could do both. There was this whole film. Somehow, she also Laura Bush) and a scene- bunch of women working together.” their couches to pay a babysitter, buy generation, just like us now,” she found time to star in the stealing recurring role on 30 The 44-year-old Banks grew up dinner, buy popcorn” is a tough ask. says, pointing to peers Greta Gerwig, high-energy flick as one of Rock, she started her own watching re-runs of the iconic 1970s “Look, people have to buy tickets Olivia Wilde, John Krasinski and three Bosleys. Patrick production company “to take TV show with her two sisters. to this movie, too. This movie has to Bradley Cooper. Stewart and Djimon Hounsou control of my destiny”. “I was always Kate Jackson — the make money,” she says, plainly. “That said, we’re in charge of are the others. (In the film, Bosley is a “I wanted to determine how I relatable one,” she says, with a laugh. “If this movie doesn’t make Hollywood; we’re the stars. We can rank, not one person.) spend my time,” she says. The show had a lasting impact on money it reinforces a stereotype in do it. We have to take control of this. In person, Banks is engaging and But why Charlie’s Angels now? her. “I knew very early on, even back Hollywood that men don’t go see And I feel like I’m part of a new class thoroughly down to earth; she Banks’ answer is surprisingly then when I was watching it, that I women do action movies.” that feels the same way. Like it’s our introduces herself as “Liz” and, pragmatic. was watching professional women. “They’ll go and see a comic book time now.” shockingly, does not have a single “I wanted to work on an action And I wanted to be a professional movie with Wonder Woman and minder, PR or assistant in the room movie, and I wanted to tell a story woman,” she says. Captain Marvel because that’s a male CHARLIE’S ANGELS OPENS ON THURSDAY.

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