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Elizabeth Banks Biography
Birth Name:
Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell
Birth Place:
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States
Profession
Actor, producer
Fast Facts
- Was athletic as a child; pursued acting after breaking her leg playing softball
- Graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania
- Made her film debut in the 1998 indie Surrender Dorothy
- Founded a production company named Brownstone with husband Max Handelman (her college sweetheart)
- Converted to Judaism after marrying in 2003
- Has costarred in a number of films with Paul Rudd, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Role Models (2008) and Our Idiot Brother (2011)
- Volunteers with LA's BEST, an after-school program that benefits Los Angeles youth; honored with the Children's Champion Award for her support in 2011
- Sons Felix and Magnus were born via gestational surrogate
Awards
- 2015Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2012Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2011Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2008Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
- 2003Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
Relationships
- Mark P. Mitchell -- Father
- Max Handelman -- Husband
- Ann Mitchell -- Mother
- Felix Handelman -- Son
- Magnus Mitchell Handelman -- Son