Elizabeth Banks Facts: Celebrities Who Started on Soaps

Elizabeth Banks has been in everything from movies and television to music videos, but the actress is certainly best known for her work in films such as The Hunger Games, Pitch Perfect, and What to Expect When You’re Expecting. She also started on a soap.

Along with her work as an actor, Banks is an accomplished writer and director — and her new film, Charlie’s Angels, is set to be released next month. From where she was born and raised to breaking records, here are five fast facts about the star.

Who Is Elizabeth Banks?

Banks was born on February 10 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She was into sports growing up and focused on playing baseball and riding horses. In fact, the reason she turned to acting was that she broke her leg playing baseball and finally had time to be in the school play. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and also went to the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

Soap Beginnings
She reportedly was offered a role on the NBC soap Santa Barbara, but she ultimately decided to turn it down to remain in college. After graduating, Banks moved out to New York to start auditioning for work and got cast on All My Children as Rosalie.

Breakthrough Role
Banks’ breakthrough moment came when she was cast as Lindsay in the cult classic, Wet Hot American Summer. The movie came out in 2001 and starred Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler, and many other rising stars.

Record Breaker

Along with being an actress, Banks is also a director. In fact, she made her directorial film debut with Pitch Perfect 2, which ended up grossing $69 million in its opening weekend. This set the record for the most money made in the first weekend by a first-time director.

Getting Personal With Elizabeth Banks
Banks met her husband, producer Max Handelman, on their first day of college over 25 years ago. The couple dated for 11 years before tying the knot in 2003. They have two sons together, Felix and Magnus.