Elizabeth Banks: Hollywood's Surprise Powerhouse

She may play the villain in this month’s Power Rangers movie, but Elizabeth Banks, who acts, produces and directs her own films, is Hollywood’s true heroine.

- Katie Ellis

Elizabeth Banks is a rare triple threat in Hollywood; not many women in the industry can claim to have experience as an actress, producer, and director. Best known for playing Effie Trinket in the wildly successful The Hunger Games movie trilogy and stealing the show in recurring roles on TV shows Modern Family and 30 Rock, it’s surprising that Elizabeth isn’t already a household name.

Blonde, petite and gorgeous, the 42-year old is on the cusp of super stardom. Just last year, Box Office mojo ranked her the sixth highest-grossing actress of all time (behind Julia Roberts and Cate Blanchett), as her movies have grossed US$2.7 billion ($3.85 billion) in all.

With her upcoming role in the Power rangers film reboot as its slinky villain, Rita repulse, Elizabeth is expanding her range once again. Though she’s used to playing comic characters in movies like The 40-Year Old Virgin, Power Rangers, which opens here on march 23, sees her in an action role. But Elizabeth admits she was always a tomboy, and prone to a bit of rough and tumble in her youth.