Elizabeth Banks is an American actress. She was born Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. As a young child, she was a contestant on the Nickelodeon game show Finders Keepers. She graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1992 and is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (1996). In 1998 she completed schooling at the American Conservatory Theater. In 2003, Banks married Max Handelman, who had been her boyfriend since college. She converted to Judaism upon marrying him.

Banks is known for her roles in Seabiscuit, Heights, the Spider-Man films (playing the part of Betty Brant), and the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer. She quickly gained widespread exposure through movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Slither. She also plays Mark Wahlberg's love interest in the Disney movie Invincible.

In May 2006, she appeared in the season five finale of the NBC comedy-drama Scrubs as Dr. Kim Briggs, the love interest of J.D. (Zach Braff. The character has appeared throughout season six and seven as a recurring guest star.

In 2005, she also appeared on the show Stella, as she is a long time friend of its creators/stars, the Stella comedy troupe. In 2007, Banks played the female lead in the comedy Meet Bill, alongside Aaron Eckhart and Jessica Alba Banks also has a small role in the 2007 Christmas comedy film Fred Claus, co-starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti and played a love interest in the 2008 comedy Definitely, Maybe.

Banks stars with Seth Rogenas the eponymous female lead in the Kevin Smithcomedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, which is scheduled to be released Halloween October 2008. She is filming the thriller The Uninvited, and also filming as United States First Lady Laura Bush in Oliver Stone's biopic on the life of President George W. Bush, W, scheduled for 2009 and 2008 releases respectively.