For over a decade, Elizabeth Banks has popped up memorably in comedic and dramatic roles in everything from Catch Me If You Can to Seabiscuit to the Spider-Man trilogy to The 40 Yr. Old Virgin to W. to The Hunger Games franchise.
Yet 2015 has been the year which has undoubtedly catapulted Banks to new and unanticipated heights. She made her directorial debut with this summer’s Pitch Perfect 2 and along with it came a record. The massive $69 million opening for the pic earned her bragging rights for largest opening of all time for a first time director. She appeared in the smash hit as well. The $184 million domestic take of the sequel guarantees Ms. Banks many more opportunities behind the camera.
Around the same time, she was co-starring alongside John Cusack and Paul Dano in the acclaimed Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy. For her work, she is in the running to receive her first Oscar nomination.
Her terrific year capped off with her turning up for the final time as crowd favorite Effie in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. Three examples of the best year yet for not only a talented actress, but a suddenly hot director.