L'OREAL PARIS' NEW FACE

It was announced today that I am joining the team of amazing ladies who represent L'oreal Paris and I couldn't be more excited. I mean,  I get to make a commercial with Beyonce! How cool is that? 

Sincerely, I'm honored. It's a great company. 

what is that weird bone sticking out of my back? cute pic, I'll take it, don't get me wrong but you should know that my "luminous skin" was a combo of London rain, my own personal sweat, and the labor of a great make-up artist. 

EW, gracias. 16th! Entertainers of the Year.

Craig Ferguson Tuesday December 9th

You can catch me on the LATE LATE SHOW tomorrow night. 

LA's BEST JAM AGAINST VIOLENCE THIS SUNDAY

Join me and special guests as we celebrate the holiday season SUNDAY DECEMBER 14th at the KODAK THEATER in Hollywood with a song & dance extravaganza benefitting LA's BEST After-school enrichment program. A highlight of this program: it keeps kids off the streets and out of gangs, reducing juvenile crime and improving our amazing city. 

Make LA's BEST part of your holiday tradition - come on down or donate at www.lasbest.org

xo

Go see Zack & Miri!

Kids, 

If you haven't seen Zack & Miri Make A Porno, I really hope you'll get to it before it's out of theaters. It is a gem. You will laugh your boots off. Thanks for seeing Role Models already, 007 kinda sucks, Four Christmases is just not funny, Twilight is for tweens, so .... really, your only option at the BO is ZAM! 

xo

COACH CARES! Click here for details.

COACH, the amazing leather goods company, has partnered with celebs and their favorite charities this holiday season - 20% of proceeds from the bag I picked (see the link above) go towards helping LA's BEST after-school enrichment program which provides an educational safe haven for kids every school day. They serve thousands of children, countless neighborhoods. 

Buy a bag! 

What a great gift for mom! or sister! Or Aunt Betty! or better yet, TREAT yourself and travel in style this holiday! 

xo

New Yorker liked Zack & Miri, the characters more than the movie:

"Banks had a brief role as a girl ready for anything in "The 40 Year Old Virgin," and, as Laura Welch in Oliver Stone's "W.," she takes a shrewd, appraising look at Josh Brolin's George Bush - it's the film's best scene. This actress - reedlike, mobile, but always focused - has a real sexual spark and so beguiling a smile that she can say obscene things and still seem fresh, and even classy." 

The New Yorker's David Denby sums me up. "Even classy" - classic! 

My mom and mother-in-law make me toot my own horn. 

ROLE MODELS OPEN NOW - Right Now!

David Wain is a quiet American hero. 

Go see his latest effort, Role Models. 

He worked really hard on it. 

He's such a patriot. 

He makes America laugh. 

Well, kids ages 17 - 30, mostly Americans. He really knows his demo. 

MADONNA - Dodger Stadium - Front Row, Bitches!

Last night I worshipped at Dodger Stadium, known for one night only as the Cathedral of Madonna. 

It was insane. That woman, who is 50!, has endless amounts of energy and put on an amazing show. Tons of hits from her entire career. Ray of Light. Music. Like A Prayer. Dress You Up. Britney and Justin joined her onstage (at different times - don't get too excited) to thunderous applause. 

Front row included me (if you are a girl who grew up in the 80s you have to agree that's a dream come true), Drew Barrymore, Carla Gugino, Lucy Liu, JLO, Heidi Klum - I danced my arse off and it was a blast. Thank you, Madonna, for putting on such a sick show. How happy do I look in that pic? 

Thank you, thank you.

Thanks to all the fans who went to see Zack & Miri (on Saturday after you partied your asses off on Friday night) and for making me the #1 search on Yahoo today. I hope you are finding what you're looking for out there on the web. 

If you liked the movie, tell your friends! And make next weekend a double feature, ZAMMAP plus Role Models! 

NY Observer - the best article on me to date - thanks Sara!

The NY Observer's Sara Vilkomerson wrote a great article that doesn't misquote me or take what I said out of context - it's like a little written miracle and I really appreciate it. It helps that we spoke the same language - meaning we are both fun urban women who like Kevin Smith flicks - not just that she spoke English. Click the link to read the article.

some pics - enjoy.

Some premiere pics

London Premiere of "W."

What can I say, it was exciting! 

Letterman Link - click here

It happened. 

Oct 10th. 

I went mano a mana with my idol. 

It goes without saying, he won. But I put up a good fight! 

The Today Show

Click above to see me on the Today Show (for about 3 minutes - fastest interview ever). 

Scrubs in Arabic!

This is a pic taken by my friend living in Abu Dhabi. He was watching Scrubs subtitled in Arabic. Crazy! Apparently they edit out scenes of kissing and sex so this baby might be unexplained! 

ACCESS HOLLYWOOD online video

Click on the link to see me chat W with Tony Potts. 

LETTERMAN! TONIGHT OCT 10th

It's me with BIF!! Crazy! Set the TIVO and DVRs! 

And yes, it is freezing on that set! But I was so nervous, once I got out there, I didn't even notice. 

Money Shots - Behind the Scenes of Zack & Miri

Head over to quickstopentertainment.com to see our behind-the-scenes vids from Zack & Miri Make A Porno! 

9 DAYS til LETTERMAN

Me and my gorgeous friend Amanda Young at a party for Domino last night held at Kelly Wearstler's house which is ab-so-freakin' incredible. 

Catch me on Letterman Oct 10th!

ROLE MODELS OPENS NOV 7th

Here's a little behind-the-scenes taste of Role Models. 

That's me and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

Ok, fine, it's me and McLovin'. Poor kid. (Damn you Seth Rogen and your amazing naming ability!)

W TRAILER, click here

The new trailer is up. 

It's great. Check it out. 

Save Women's Healthcare - Read This, Act Now!

Click the link to read the op-ed piece written by two women I profoundly admire: Hillary Clinton and Cecile Richards (daughter of Ann, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America). 

The Bush Administration has carefully encouraged the construction of legislation that erodes women's rights to quality healthcare in this country. In an attempt to inject their morality into the healthcare decisions of women, they potentially put millions of women and girls at risk and may even raise the abortion rate. Without access to safe, quality contraception and information beyond abstinence-only teachings, what exactly do they expect women to do? 

Sarah Palin's daughter proves that it is human nature to have sex (despite what mama told her!) - it's how we keep the human race going! But I'm not just talking about young, scared, unmarried girls. What are young married couples supposed to do? Have a kid every time they have sex? Women would be back to barefoot and pregnant in no time flat or else in very unhappy, sexless marriages. Not to mention the cost of children on young families starting out. 

I thank my parents, my public school sex education classes, and Planned Parenthood for teaching me that every child should be wanted and that there should be no shame associated with my sexuality. Help America protect the welfare of all her citizens by visiting www.plannedparenthood.org to protest the Bush Administration's latest attack on women's health. 

ROLE MODELS RED BAND TRAILER ONLINE

Click above - I like the green band version too. 

Me and Kevin Smith at Toronto

The Canadian (Banned) Poster

Unofficial but on Kevin's blog.....

MSNBC quick interview from TIFF

This is a fairly awful photo of me from the press day for Zack & Miri at Toronto. 

The accompanying article (click above) is full of fun stuff including a "spoiler" about the granny panties I sport in Zack & Miri. 

Indiewire Review of Z & M

My favorite review of many great reviews is this one in which they happen to say:

"When it comes to generating laughs, Banks out-performs the more popular Rogen, confirming her status as one of film's best comediennes." 

Take that Rogen! Stuff it! In ...your...pie...hole! 

That's 1 for me and 4, 327 for you. I'm coming for you. 

W - George Meets Laura now online

I can't figure out how to just post the video for you and I'm tired so for now, just hit the link to see it. 

And Red Band Zack & Miri trailer is insane so watch that too.

Women's Health

Click above to read the AP article that came out of the lil' shindig WOMEN'S HEALTH magazine threw for me last night in NY. They were wonderful hosts and I had a lovely time and I hope you'll all go out and buy the magazine when it hits newsstands on Sept 18th. That's the cover pic. 

Scrubs - yup, I'm back.

I can confirm I'm returning to Scrubs as JD's baby mama for a couple episodes. Nail biter!! 

TRAPEZE SCHOOL ROCKS!

Me and some gal pals went to Trapeze school last week on the Santa Monica Pier. I highly recommend it - they say you don't have to worry about being afraid, you have to worry about getting addicted! And they're right. Although it is also a bit scary. But check out my trick! I did a "catch"! 

ROLE MODELS TRAILER ONLINE

The trailer for Role Models, starring Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, me and McLovin' is now online as well as showing before Pineapple Express (which is doing mad biz). 

They will be releasing a Red Band trailer soon, too so watch for it. 

AIN'T IT COOL NEWS INTERVIEW

I sat down with Capone at Comicon and the results are posted on Ain't It Cool News (or click above). It's a pretty fun interview with good insight into the "real me." And, of course, I appreciate Capone referring to me as "beautiful." Thanks Capone. Cheers. 

Behind the scenes - MEAN Photo Shoot

Here's a teaser for you - this mag photographed me and Seth Rogen in several time periods, including the Elizabethan Age. So that's me getting ready to play Queen for a couple hours. You'll have to wait til September to see the finished product including the amazing cover shot from the 1940s. 

COMICON '08

This is me at Comicon with Rob Venditti, the creator of The Surrogates. He is a rad dude. Comicon was awesome as usual. I love people's passion! 

EARTHQUAKE - my first vlog.

W Trailer's causing all kinds of brouhahas

The trailer for Oliver Stone's "W" (w/ me as Laura Bush) has begun airing all over the place. My favorite response is from the ladies on the view. Click above for a look. 

Man, that Whoopi - Elizabeth dynamic is amazing! Whoopi had it right though - the movie is about how a man gets from one place in his life to another - it's about the journey. In this case, the journey of a guy who served as President of the United States not once but twice. It's a great story! 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz9QFIFiZgY

New York Times Magazine

Click above for the "Screen Test" videos that accompanied this Sunday's NYT Magazine bit on comics featured in this summer's movies - I have a giant grin featuring my chiclet teeth - and I also recommend listening to Rogen's and Will Ferrell's. They are super fun. 

Meet Dave - poor guy, he was so misunderstood

But we had fun at the premiere anyway. 

Surrogates photos leaked

Cinematical picked up a cool shot from Surrogates - This movie is looking amazing. Mostow is crushing it. 

So I'm hanging with 50 Cent....

.... yeah, you read that right (I even have a photo to prove it which I can't post without incurring the wrath of Oliver Stone). So Fiddy and Val (Kilmer, let me pick that name up off the floor) visited us on the set of "W." I love these two guys. Love. 

First off, Val Kilmer is hilarious. "Real Genius" anyone? I wanna see him in more comedy. "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"?? Val + gay + gun x Downey, Jr = better than the shot of Monaghan's boobs, by far. He is the highlight of that flick.

Second, Fiddy is wearing this watch, right? I spy it from across the patio we're all standing on and I think to myself, "that's gotta be Prada or maybe one of those amazing Japanese watches with the digital numbers." Basically, I'm thinking it's the hottest watch I've ever seen. So I go over and tell him and we admire the watch and you know what? It's from Macy's. And it's not expensive. He can have any watch in the world (and I've seen the pics, he has them) yet he wears this totally, as it turns out, modest piece cuz, you know, it's Tuesday or whatever and why does he have to be a big show-off? I love it. And I am buying me that watch and no, I'm not telling ya'll the brand name cuz then everyone will run out and buy it and then it won't be my "me-n-Fiddy-only" watch. You'll have to go to Macy's and guess. 

COMIC CON JULY 25th

The Zack & Miri Make A Porno chat with Kevin, me and Seth is Friday night at Comic-con. I think they are prepping a red-band trailer too!!! I'm so excited to share this one with audiences. Kevin, of course, will be a highlight at Comic-con as always. I mean, have you seen this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ou2mVnElp6c

To view: you can click the title above too (I have to write this for my mother-in-law, who might be one of only 9 people who ever read this blog). 

Behind the scenes of Tropic Thunder

Justin Theroux (an unheralded hilarious dude) is behind the behind-the-scenes "documentary" of the making-of "Tropic Thunder." Well, his alter ego is. I know, it's confusing. Just hit the link and laugh your ass off. 

TONIGHT SHOW FRIDAY JULY 11th

Yikes, I am making my first appearance on The Tonight Show! 

I'm nervous. Anxious. Freaked. I'm supposed to be funny! I was the bathtub chick in 40-Year-Old Virgin! Oy geez. High expectations. Laughs-on-demand is tough. Comedy is much harder than drama. My huz says I can fall back on "looking cute." That's probably true but still .... it's a comedy show. I am feeling the pressure. 

Watch and see if I kill or am killed. 

MEET DAVE THIS FRIDAY

I'm in this flick - it's a cute, silly family movie. If you know a kid, take them. They will like it. You will not hate it. Here's a little PEOPLE bit: 

ESQUIRE WOMEN WE LOVE - July

ZACK & MIRI TEASER ONLINE

Click above to see the teaser (first of three) that Kevin threw together for Zack & Miri - "CASTING." 

It's a series of improvs Kevin expertly edited for laughs - and none of this is in the movie - so essentially it's like seeing a DVD extra before the movie even comes out. Enjoy. 

Click here - Audience reaction!

Kevin Smith recorded the audience at a test screening for Zach & Miri Make A Porno in Kansas City. 

Needless to say, and apparent from the video, the movie rocked. 

EW FIRST LOOK - W, the Bush Biopic

Josh Brolin and I are on the cover of EW as George and Laura Bush. 

I find the age make-up I have to wear disconcerting and yet, also, slightly encouraging. If I look basically like that when I am in my 50s, I think I'll be pretty happy. 

I'm now in Shreveport where we are shooting the flick. It's flat and it's hot. I'm about to go exploring. Well, at least I plan to go to Target. 

My friend sent this to me.

People shot

I love me some wind machine. Especially when I gots no make-up on. xo

CLICK HERE for VIDEO from PEOPLE.com

I'm on People's 100 Most Beautiful List. 

They have a silly video of my make-up-free photo shoot set to some bad elevator music in which I don't speak. I just smile a lot. And try to look like I belong on this list - it's a totally self-indulgent video. 

Is it just me or is it completely odd and stupid that our 24/7 all-access intra-webbed lives deem it necessary for such videos to exist? People.com needs content! Quick - shoot somebody else shooting Elizabeth Banks! 

I will say that I am pretty psyched to be on the list. When they asked me if I was afraid of doing the shoot with no make-up, I said that the fact that People magazine chose me for their list of good-lookers took away a lot of my anxiety. 

Sidenote: I also made FHM's Sexiest List or some such thing. I'm way down at the bottom. But thanks to the seven of you who voted (mom!). 

USA TODAY - the latest, click here

So they published it! And also Seth's response. So if you wanna read that, click up there. 

New Poster for Meet Bill

I'm surprisingly happy with this. I thought I'd look totally terrible next to Jessica Alba. I look older than her but geez, I am. So that's fine, right? 

My last (unpublished as-of-yet) USA TODAY postcard from the set

The following statement always sounds crazy to anybody who does not work in the movie business: making a movie is boring 90% of the time. 

Just like any job, it has its ups and downs. I've found the per-hour formula to be about 40 minutes of nada, 5 minutes of prep for actual work and 15 minutes of working. It works the same no matter who you are on set - the gaffer only works 10 minutes per hour, the costumer works 10, the camera loader, the script supervisor, the hair and make-up team - everybody on set works part of an hour, filling the time until a movie gets made. But everybody needs something else to do for a good chunk of any given day. That's why actors want huge trailers and exotic shooting locales - to stave off the unavoidable boredom.

Despite the exciting title, "Zack & Miri Make A Porno" is mostly "Zack & Miri Hang Around Set Debating the Hit Series LOST." We are obsessed with this ABC show - is Ben ultimately good or evil? Can Desmond time-travel? Should Kate be with Jack or Sawyer? On this point, I argue the show is doing it perfectly. Kate gets to have her cake and eat it too. Both guys love her, she could have either one if she put her mind to it or both at once probably. To choose would not only kill the debate but also the excitement and mystery. That Michael was Ben's "Man on the Boat" was a constant source of debate, although also the worst-kept secret of the show so far. I could go on. On set, I do. On and on. Until Kevin makes us shut it because the last episode is still unwatched on his TIVO. 

Another time-killer might be "Zack & Miri Re-cast Old Movies With New Actors." Or "Zack & Miri Debate the Best SNL Skits of All-time." Or "Zack & Miri Take A Nap." You get the idea. So if you ever visit a set, bring your pop-culture A-game (and maybe Boggle). You will die of boredom without them.

From Porno to the White House

As many of you have heard, I'll be playing Laura Bush in Oliver Stone's biopic currently titled "W." I have nothing but admiration and respect for the First Lady and I hope my portrayal honors her. Although, as my friend said, "prepare to get audited." So I'm also scared shitless. See the link for deets.

We wrapped!

We wrapped principle photography on Zack & Miri and I am so so sad to see it end. This is me and our "giant" Assistant Director, Milos at our wrap party in Pittsburgh. 

USA TODAY - the original postcard

Seth Rogen and I have been helping USA Today sell papers or something. So the link is their edited version of the following text. Here's the original: 

When you make a movie called "Zack & Miri Make A Porno," journalists who like to think they are clever (that's all of them, it goes without saying) will invariably ask, "did you do any research for the role (wink-wink)?" They want to know if I watched porn to prepare. Or rather, they want me to say that I did so they can print something slightly scandalous. I'm sorry for them that the only extra research I did to prepare for playing Miri was of a much more wholesome variety. 

I learned to knit. And "pearl" too! That' insider knitting lingo. I should know. I did the research. See, Miri is a knitter. So I met a friend, a master knitter, at a Studio City yarn store where we picked out yarn and needles. I chatted with the girls who work there since Miri works at a yarn kiosk in a mall. They had a lot of opinions concerning what somebody's first project should be - they thought it was very ambitious of me to consider a scarf. A little while later at a Hollywood coffee shop, my friend helped me to "cast on" and I've been knitting ever since. My first scarf was a bit of a mess but that's also very Miri-like since she's not supposed to be very good at anything. But, oh, my second scarf! It's a masterpiece in wool! 

As for the porn, let's just say I didn't go out of my way to learn anything new about it. We live in a pretty sexed-up society. Paris Hilton got famous in amateur pornography. CBS is broadcasting a couples version of "Big Brother" with lots of action between the sheets, shot in night-vision. The governor of New York just got caught paying a female escort. People are fornicating all over the place. I already knew this. The worst thing an actor can do is judge the character they play. Who am I to judge a coupla down-on-their-luck misfits who decide to pursue an offshoot of the oldest profession, especially since, in their words, "they already know how to do it?" No research necessary. 

"Zack & Miri Make A Porno" in USA Today

Check out these postcards from the set of "Zack & Miri Make A Porno" in USA Today. Get psyched.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-03-04-
zack-and-miri-dispatches_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip"