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What to Expect When You're Expecting Set Visit: Elizabeth Banks on Her Fake Bump and Personal Baby Joy

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:05:11 PST

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood will share the big screen in the upcoming comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting, which follows different mothers-to-be as they prepare for the arrivals of their bundles of joy. Cameron Diaz, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, and Elizabeth Banks are among the famous ladies who strapped on fake baby bumps to portray different kinds of pregnant women, and Banks's character, Wendy, doesn't exactly have an easy time of it.

I visited the Atlanta set of the film last year, where Banks was shooting a climactic scene in which her character addresses all the woes of pregnancy - in an auditorium with a rather large audience. The hilarious meltdown, which you can see in the opening of the trailer for What to Expect When You're Expecting, includes harsh truths like "I'm calling it: pregnancy sucks." It was great fun to see Banks film the passionate speech again and again, especially since the funny lady mixed up her one-liners from one take to another. What was even more interesting was seeing all of the extras who played the audience members, since the group of women was a mix of actual pregnant women and women rocking fake baby bumps.

I chatted with Banks about her own experience filming the movie, and she revealed that she actually felt like she was in her own little movie, since she doesn't have much screen time with her costars. Banks was refreshingly honest about not having any parenting tips and also admitted that though welcoming her son, Felix, has brought her a great deal of joy, it hasn't changed her stance on how she feels about kids in general. Here's more of what Banks had to say about pregnancy and motherhood:

What inspired you to take this role?
Elizabeth Banks: I cried when I read the script. It has a really great ending: at the end of the movie, everybody has a baby! It really is just a very relatable story for everyone: anybody who is a parent, has considered being a parent, has a baby, whatever. It's just very universal, what happens in the film. We really explore so many great storylines and different paths to getting a child. I had a unique path to getting my son, so I understand how everybody's path to their child is different.

How does it feel to wear the bump?
EB: It's sweaty! [Laughs] I think it's probably a decent approximation; it weighs a good 10 lbs. The boobs weigh about 6 lbs. They are really unbelievable. It's fun. It definitely makes you sit and walk in a totally different way. As an actor, it's a great prop.

How did you change when you became a mom?
EB: I get drunk much faster and easier, and it's a big problem, so I can't go out very much. I find that I underestimated the amount of joy. I'm really learning about my capacity for joy through my son.

To see what Banks had to say about baby fever and her parenting tips, just keep reading.

Elizabeth Banks Directed a Porno

Annie Scudder — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:15:44 PST

Elizabeth Banks will star in the much-anticipated The Hunger Games, out in March, but there's another movie she's been working hard on. The actress and her longtime husband are producing Pitch Perfect together, a comedy about competitive college a cappella. It sounds like an unlikely film for a porno scene, but last night Elizabeth told Jimmy Kimmel that she in fact directed a pornographic scene for the movie. The sexy shoot went down in the background of a scene that takes place in a frat house. Watch Elizabeth Banks explain how exactly it fits into Pitch Perfect, and hear her dish the details of the casting call now.

Video: Elizabeth Banks on Hunger Games: "I Think the Fans Will Be Really Happy"

Lauren Bradshaw — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:25:35 PST

Elizabeth Banks can't escape The Hunger Games! Elizabeth stepped out at last night's New York premiere for Man on a Ledge, but once on the carpet, conversation quickly turned to Elizabeth's other big project. See what she had to say about the highly anticipated film in today's PopSugar Rush.

Elizabeth Banks Talks Hunger Games Excitement and "Devoting" Herself to Effie

Molly Goodson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:33:32 PST

We sat down to chat with Elizabeth Banks at the Man on a Ledge junket in Beverly Hills over the weekend. She had a lot to say about playing a cop in the intense film and what it was like actually filming on a building ledge high over New York City. Up next is The Hunger Games mania for Elizabeth, who transformed into Effie for the highly anticipated big-screen adaptation. Having been a Hunger Games fan from the beginning, Elizabeth wasn't even aware it had become such a sensation until she signed on for the part. As for the finished product, Elizabeth revealed she's seen enough to know it's great. Check out our interview with Elizabeth and watch for Man on a Ledge in theaters Jan. 27.

Man on a Ledge Trailer: Sam Worthington's on a Suicide Mission

Shannon Vestal — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 05:30:00 PDT

Man on a Ledge starts out with a premise that's not terribly groundbreaking, but the trailer reveals a pretty interesting twist halfway through. A desperate man (Sam Worthington) steps out onto a ledge of a high-rise building with the intention of jumping. As a suicide negotiator (Elizabeth Banks), police, and a crowd of freaked-out onlookers assemble around him, he relates his predicament. The man, Nick, is an ex-con who refuses to go back to prison, and he sees no other way out besides death.

Here's where the twist comes in: Nick is just providing a large-scale distraction while his brother (Jamie Bell) pulls off a massive diamond heist - a crime that's way easier to commit when the police have something better to worry about, like making sure a guy doesn't leap off a building into the city street below. The trailer is tense and heart-pounding, and there's a "make it rain" reference that makes it worth watching, so to check out the trailer for Man on a Ledge, just keep reading.

Our Idiot Brother: A Family Gathering You Don't Have to Dread

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:30:00 PDT

Sometimes the best comedy comes from the most relatable subjects, and Our Idiot Brother mines a rich source: family. Paul Rudd stars as the titular brother, Ned, a Bohemian free spirit who gets arrested in an unfortunate setup. When he's released months later, he finds himself jobless, dumped by his farmer girlfriend (Kathryn Hahn), and in need of a place to stay. Luckily, he has a lot of family in the area, including his three sisters: Nat (Zooey Deschanel), Miranda (Elizabeth Banks), and Liz (Emily Mortimer).

Although Ned is the family member who seems to have the messiest situation, his sisters' lives are all in precarious positions too. Nat is in a committed relationship with Cindy (Rashida Jones) but prone to cheating, icy Miranda is making poor career choices and missing out on a relationship with her neighbor (Adam Scott), and Liz is oblivious to the fact that her husband (Steve Coogan) is a jerk with a wandering eye. As Ned moves from each of their places (or rather, is kicked out of each place) and into the next, he brings to light all of their problems and bears the blame. His journey is a wacky one that's sometimes awkward and frustrating, but it has as much as heart as its put-upon protagonist. To find out why I enjoyed Our Idiot Brother, just

read more. The spot-on casting of Rudd as Ned gives the film its funny backbone. The actor makes Ned not just likable, but lovable, because he's got a childlike outlook, good intentions, and a healthy does of naiveté. Unfortunately, there are times when the film takes its idiot badge too far and makes Ned unrealistically stupid. The first offense that gets him arrested is a clear case of entrapment, and it's one thing when Ned doesn't protest, but it's hard to believe that a grown man can't put some of the movie's most obvious situations together. The other frustrating aspect of the movie is how unsympathetic Ned's sisters are toward him, but it works for the story. Their lives tumble downhill in Ned's presence, so he becomes their scapegoat, but Ned is too good-natured to mount his own defense. Anyone who's been in the crossfire of sibling drama will get a familiar chuckle from the family warring with each other. In these combative scenes, the supporting cast shines, particularly Banks, whose Miranda is both chilly and clever. The smaller characters also provide some big laughs, like T.J. Miller as the overly accommodating new boyfriend of Ned's ex, or Coogan baring all in the name of comedy. The strong ensemble impresses through a realistic portrayal of how a family can overcome obstacles together (even with a black sheep in the mix). If this is what happens when you have an idiot brother, then I wouldn't mind having Ned as mine.

How to Be Confident in Life and Love, According to the Babes Played by Elizabeth Banks

Tara Sharp — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:00:26 PDT

This Friday, Our Idiot Brother hits theaters, starring Elizabeth Banks as one of the three sisters having to deal with their brother Ned, played by Paul Rudd, and his effect on their love lives. This isn't the first time Elizabeth has starred in a movie with Paul, and this also isn't the first time one of her characters has had to deal with messy romantic relationships. But whether she's playing a sloppy kisser at a Summer camp in the '80s or a strong-willed, workaholic CNBC news anchor, Elizabeth's notable TV and film characters always know what they want and how to go after it.

So from the lips of Elizabeth Banks's characters, here's how to be a confident woman in your relationships.

Rashida, Elizabeth, and Zooey Toast Idiot Brother Paul Rudd at Their LA Premiere

Allie Merriam — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:20:08 PDT

Paul Rudd had some of Hollywood's funniest ladies on his arm last night at the LA premiere of Our Idiot Brother, which is out on Aug. 26. He posed with costars Rashida Jones, Elizabeth Banks, in Prada, and Moschino-clad Zooey Deschanel on the red carpet, which also hosted comedic stars like Busy Philipps, who was fresh off a day of zip-lining on the Cougar Town set, and Jack McBrayer. Adam Scott is another member of the movie's funny cast, and his Parks and Recreation costars like Amy Poehler and Aubrey Plaza came out to support both him and Rashida. Elizabeth was excited to see her fellow leading ladies, tweeting before she left home that she was going to "chest bump [Zooey] and then compliment her on her dress." Zooey, meanwhile, wrote that she was "so excited" for the event to start. Following the screening, the gang and their guests moved on to the afterparty at the Mondrian hotel. Paul recently teamed up with producer Harvey Weinstein for a Funny or Die spoof about their marketing plan, and the two men were able to catch up inside the hotel.

Teen Choice Awards: Elizabeth Banks

BellaSugar — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:46:38 PDT

Elizabeth Banks is the lady in red for the Teen Choice Awards. We're used to seeing Elizabeth in soft looks that show off her curls, but tonight she's straight and sleek with pulled-back hair and fiery lipstick to match her second-skin dress. Her outfit stayed away from being bandage-dress sexy with the addition of asymmetrical accents at the waist, which create more volume. She's definitely dressed up enough for this show, but do you think it's a good look on her?Vote on all of our Teen Choice Awards polls here!

A Blonder Josh Hutcherson Emerges as Peeta on The Hunger Games Set!

PopSugar — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:12:34 PDT

Filming is under way for The Hunger Games, and Josh Hutcherson is the latest star to be spotted on the Shelby, NC, set. Get a look at Josh in character as Peeta, along with his costars Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket and Willow Shields as Prim - plus, news about the movie's latest cast member and plans for a multifilm franchise!