Elizabeth Banks born Elizabeth Irene Mitchell ; [ 1 ] February 10, [ 2 ] is an American actress, director, and producer. Banks founded the film and television production company Brownstone Productions in with her husband, Max Handelman. Banks made her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy She also had recurring roles on the comedy series Scrubs β and Modern Family β , the latter of which earned her a third Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
She was in Little League when she broke her leg sliding into third base. She then tried out for the school play, which was her start in acting. She graduated magna cum laude in with a major in communications and a minor in theater arts. Banks changed her name upon joining the Screen Actors Guild , as actress Elizabeth Mitchell was already registered in the union under that name. After auditioning in New York, she was offered a role on the soap opera Santa Barbara.
Taking the role would have required her to quit her education at the American Conservatory Theater, and as she had taken out student loans to complete her degree, she declined the offer. In , Banks set up her own production company, Brownstone Productions , with her future husband, Max Handelman.
Banks gained more prominent widespread exposure with her role in the comedy film The Year-Old Virgin. Her performance is all of a piece and in harmony, stylistically, with the performances around her.
Kim Briggs , the love interest of J. Zach Braff. Banks appeared throughout seasons six, seven, and eight as a recurring guest star. In , Banks appeared in the American football drama film Invincible , in which she played Mark Wahlberg 's love interest. Donaghy ". She also starred as Gail Abernathy-McKadden in the musical comedy film Pitch Perfect , which became a critical and commercial success. The next year she directed and starred in separate segments of Movie 43 , a critically panned comedy anthology film.
