Curiosidades

Graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania (1996), where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and was elected to the Friars Senior Society. She was the first in her family to graduate from college.

In a 2012 interview with Slate, she said that she considered her role in the independent movie Surrender Dorothy (1998) to be one of the worst mistakes in her career, so far. She also said that it was instrumental in her decision to attend drama school, so that she could receive training that would enable her never to have to be in this type of movie again.

Her stage name, Banks, was made up (it's not in her family tree) as there was already another actress named Elizabeth Mitchell in the Screen Actors Guild. She chose it because it fits her image.

One of only three women to have won the Razzie Award for Worst Director. (The other two being Elaine May for Ishtar (1987) and Jennifer Lynch for Encaixotando Helena (1993).) Banks was actually one of several directors cited for Para Maiores (2013).

Became a mother for the second time at age 38, when her son, Magnus Mitchell Handelman, was born in November 2012, via surrogate. Child's father is her husband, Max Handelman.

Dated her husband Max Handelman for eleven years before marrying. She and her husband founded the production company Brownstone Productions (2002). She met him on her first day at the University of Pennsylvania (1992).

Got the role in Pagando Bem, que Mal Tem? (2008) after Rosario Dawson turned it down.

Enjoys fantasy football as a hobby.

Papai Noel às Avessas (2003) is her favorite holiday movie.

Became a mother for the first time at age 37, when her son, Felix Handelman, was born in March 2011 via surrogate. Child's father is her husband, Max Handelman.

Her father, Mark Mitchell, was a factory worker for General Electric and her mother, Ann Mitchell, until recently, worked in a bank.

Met President George W. Bush when Seabiscuit: Alma de Herói (2003) was screened at the White House. In Oliver Stone's W. (2008), she plays the role of Laura Bush, the president's wife.

Her ancestry is English, Irish and Scottish. Through her English connection, she has a Colonial American lineage, with deep roots in Massachusetts.

Was considered for the role of Susan Storm/Invisible Girl in Quarteto Fantástico (2005), as was Fernanda Romero. The role went to Jessica Alba.

Turned down a role in A Epidemia (2010) because the role was too similar to her character in Seres Rastejantes (2006), and she didn't want to repeat herself.

She went through most of the process of conversion to Judaism when marrying her husband, and said in 2013, "I've been essentially a Jew for like 15 years".

Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist: O Fenômeno (1982) was the scariest movie she has ever seen. She saw it, with her sister, when she was eleven.

Received her Master of Fine Arts degree from American Conservatory Theater's Advanced Training Program in San Francisco, California (1998).

Oldest of four children in a divided house (Her mother was for the Boston Red Sox and her father was for the New York Yankees.).

Attended and graduated from Pittsfield (Massachusetts) High School (1992).

In 2012, she threw her support behind President Barack Obama in a highly personal video testimonial on the importance of federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Taking a course on flying the trapeze with a girlfriend (2008).

Ranked #83 in the 2011 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".

Returned to work two months after the birth of her son Felix in order to begin filming Jogos Vorazes (2012).

Ranked #39 in the 2010 FHM UK list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".

Is a major fan of David Letterman.

In September 2020, Banks, along with Zoe Saldaña, Rory O'Malley, Amy Schumer and Amber Heard, used her social media to participate in the VoteRiders #IDCheck Challenge to help spread the word about voter ID requirements for the 2020 United States presidential election.

College friends with Todd Lieberman.