If you don’t immediately recognize Elizabeth Banks’ name, you probably recognize her face if you watch movies on a regular basis. That is, you’ll recognize Banks if you don’t confuse her with comedienne/talk-show host/author Chelsea Handler. (It’s an identity mix-up that happens to Banks often, she says.) Although Banks has been acting in movies and TV for several years, she had her big breakthrough year in 2008 by co-starring in the films “Definitely, Maybe,” “Role Models,” “W.” (as former first lady Laura Bush) “Meet Dave,” “Lovely, Still” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.”

On TV, Banks has had a guest-starring role on the sitcom “30 Rock,” as CNBC reporter Avery Jessup, who is in a love triangle with arrogant TV executive Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin) and his former high-school girlfriend Nancy Donovan (played by Julianne Moore). Banks says that the love triangle will be resolved in the “30 Rock’s” fourth-season finale, airing May 20 at 9:30 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time on NBC. In addition to Banks having a busy career as an actress, she is a producer and has made her directorial debut in a still-untitled anthology feature film. During a telephone conference call with journalists, Banks shared her thoughts on her recent projects and how she is juggling them all.

Since you spend so much time with Alec Baldwin on the show what it is like working with him?

Everyone like wants to know that. I think he’s fantastic. First of all, he’s so charming it’s sort of ridiculous. And I think he’s working in a zone right now that I think for his career is really amazing. I mean, he’s so funny and they’ve really done such a great job with the Jack Donaghy character for him. And he seems very delighted by Tina and by the scripts. So I think he’s pretty happy there. It’s certainly – they certainly make a big effort to keep him happy there. And I hope I make – I hope he’s happy with me too.

You’ve done recurring roles on “30 Rock” and “Scrubs.” Do you ever see yourself settling down into a series or do you kind of like this dynamic of going back and forth between film and TV?

I’m very happy going back and forth right now. I really love playing multiple characters. , I’m not quite ready to commit to a single character for multiple years just yet. But that said, I never rule it out; life is long and you just never know. But it won’t be anytime soon.

In the season finale are we going to get to see a hint of Avery’s annual PMS retreat?

There is no scene that takes place in the fenced in area in the Adirondacks, unfortunately no. But I’m assuming it sort of comes from “The Red Tent,” the Anita Diamant book which is about how all the women whenever they get their period all have to go sit in the red tent and hang out with each other. I think that was the inspiration for the idea of the fenced-in area. I’d love to see what other ladies are there.

Are you going to have a face-off with Julianne Moore?

I will tell you that Julianne Moore and I do have a scene together. I don’t know if it’s quite the face-off that you’re expecting but we do have a scene together, so we meet in the finale.

Is there any chance that Avery could come back next year or is this wrapping it up for her?

I would say like with any show and especially this show you just never know year to year what the writer are going to decide they want to do or what direction they want to take things in. So, , it’s not quite wrapped up. It’s open-ended at the end of the season as to what’s going to happen.

What’s your take on the Avery Jessup character?

I watch a lot of cable news. It’s sort of depressing that I watched cable news. But so I’m aware of who all those personalities are. And I really wanted to play it like any of those ladies who have those shows. I love Maria Bartiromo. It was sort of based on her in my mind a little bit but also all the guys. I love the idea of “Countdown.” I thought it was very Keith Olbermann, so that’s who I was sort of impersonating. But she’s an amalgam of many, many characters. And contrary to the Page Six [New York Post gossip column] reports, she’s not based on any one person.

You have great comedic timing; is it something that you found came natural to you or have you had to hone it in some way?

Well, the great thing about comedic timing is you’re typically born with it, but I can be taught. So the best people are born with it and they hone it after a long time. I think I was born with a little bit of comic timing and the sense of humor. And I have just sort of an openness to laugh. But you also, the great thing about comedy is there are rules to comedy that I really enjoy like three is funnier than two is, three is funnier than four, fart jokes are always funny, anytime a man dresses as a woman, it’s funny. There’s just like a lot of rules to comedy. And the amazing thing about “30 Rock” is that they break a lot of the rules or they explode them, but they also adhere to a lot of them too. So I would say it’s a combination.

We recently saw Avery at an event with Jack and they hollered, “Hey, Chelsea Handler, look over here.” Was that something that you had a hand in?

Well, I’m friendly with the writing staff on this show, and there was a piece on my Twitter page about Chris Rock referring to me as Chelsea Handler and that was a call-back to that because then I think Star magazine or something … I’ll tell you what, I get confused with Chelsea Handler often enough that we felt like it was a funny joke to put in the show.

And speaking of Twitter, it’s a big part of promotion for TV shows and movies. And you’re an active participant on Twitter. Why is that so important for you?

I just like having a direct connection to my fans. That’s why I think the power of Twitter is that. And the great thing about Twitter which the other social networks don’t have is there’s no expectation of returning anyone’s tweet to me. Most the people who tweet to me, I actually read their tweets. But I’m a busy person and I don’t have the time or the inclination to respond to everybody.

And the great thing about Twitter is that there’s no expectation to respond whereas, if you’re on Facebook and it’s like, “Why don’t you friend me, you bitch.” And I’m like, “Great, I don’t really want to be called a bitch on Facebook so I’m not going to do that anymore.”

Which do you enjoy doing more: TV or film?

Well, they’re totally different things. The main difference between television and movies is that when you make a movie, the beginning, middle and end of your character’s arc. You always know where you’re going, how the story ends. When you make a TV show they could decide tomorrow that I get hit by a car or I have a brother or I’m a lesbian — like, you just have no idea what they’re going to throw at you.

So the main thing about TV versus film is that you have to create characters that could be open to anything at any moment because the consistency of the character is really important. It’s important that the writers write a consistent character, that you play a consistent character but that you also feel like this character could go in any direction at any time.

You’ve had some good-looking leading men, such as Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin. [Says jokingly] Who are you paying off to get these roles?

I don’t know, I just have good karma, I guess, because I’m definitely living a lot of ladies’ dreams, that’s true. And I’m happy to do it because they’re all great guys.

What it’s like coming into a show that has such a specific sensibility as “30 Rock” and how you try and get into the groove with the cast regulars?

Yeah, you bring up a good point which is that “30 Rock” has a rhythm that is unlike most typical sitcoms. And it really is all about sort of falling into that rhythm. I mean, the pacing on that show is “cheetah pace.” And I would say that’s true.

They don’t pause for any jokes, there’s no like “ba-da-bump” punch line. It’s very much “blink and you miss it” on that show. I happen to have that sensibility. I think the writers knew that when they were writing the material. And it was a very easy transition for me. But you really do have to be aware of the rhythm of the show and how to fall into it properly.

And if you were to ever consider doing a show of your own do you have any thoughts on what it would be?

I really haven’t. I really have not given it any thought at all. I would love for someone to figure out some amazing character that I could play like for the rest of my life, like Betty White. But it’s not in my near future.

Have you gotten any feedback from any cable news anchors or any TV news people in general about how your character is going?

Jake Tapper, who is the ABC White House correspondent, I’m friendly with him. And then [someone] tweeted to me after the first episode aired that Fox was probably already calling to try and steal me from CNBC because I had done such a good job on my countdown show [on "30 Rock"].

Putting aside the fact that you play one of these ladies, who do you think Jack should choose?

Well, I mean, Avery’s ego will definitely say you should choose Avery but probably only so that then Avery can then dump him, you what I mean? Like she’d really want to be chosen just so that she can have the glory of then dumping him.

I think he’s probably paying with fire with Julianne’s character. I think he’s right in saying she’s a fiery red-headed Irish lady from Boston. I know those ladies and they are tough, tough cookies. So we’ll see. We’re both tough cookies I will say that. And I think he should do whatever’s best for him. Let’s put it this way, I think no matter who he chooses, I don’t know that if this is going to be the be-all end-all for his love life.

Were you a big fan of “30 Rock” before you got on the show?

I was. I’m a huge Tina Fey fan. And I have a few friends on the writing staff. I think they’re all amazing. And, yeah, I was a huge fan of the show, of course. In terms of doing television if you’re going to do a guest star on a show, you pretty much want it to be on the show that wins all the Emmys. So that it just came down to that. I get offered shows and it really is like this is the cream of the crop so why not.

Do you really get offered a lot of guest spots? What’s your criteria in doing a show?

The criteria for me is the character amazing. Am I actually getting to score (comedically) on the show or am I just there to support everybody else? And I don’t want to go do TV and then be bored by what I’m doing on TV. So it’s just people who write something really exciting. Bill Lawrence on “Scrubs” always wrote me really fun, funny exciting stuff to do. I always felt like I was part of that ensemble. I feel the same way on “30 Rock.” I feel very much a part of the ensemble when I’m there making the show. So it’s really just looking for that sense of belonging.

Have you finished the movie “The Next Three Days” with Russell Crowe?

Yes, we finished it. It comes out November 18, [2010]. I’m very, very excited. It’s a great movie. I play a woman who is accused of murder. I go to prison and my husband, Russell Crowe, breaks me out and we go on the run. We had a lot of fun shooting that. Hi Elizabeth. Great speaking with you today.

What is the best thing about playing off of Alec Baldwin?

He’s a really easy laugh which is kind of great. I really enjoy making him laugh. And I feel it’s my duty on set to make him laugh. So if I can get him laughing I feel like I’ve scored that day. So that’s part of it. Also he always tells me how gorgeous I look and I will take that compliment every day of the week.

How did you get involved in the producing side of things with films?

I got involved with producing partially because there’s just a lack of interesting things for women to do in Hollywood. And I’m a sort of Type A personality who likes a little control in my life. So it’s probably just gaining back a little control over what I’m doing in my daily life here in good old Hollywood, USA.

You directed part of a still-untitled feature film coming out sometime this year. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Yeah, I directed. [Peter Farrelly of the Farrelly Brothers] is exec producing a movie that’s going to come out in the fall that’s a series of comedic shorts that are put together into an overall movie sort of like the “New York, I Love You,”/”Paris Je T’aime” for comedy. They were inspired by “Kentucky Fried Movie.”

And they brought together writers and directors from all over. And they offered me a short to act in and they said, “Here’s all the great people that are writing and directing them.” And it was all men. There was not a single woman on the list. I’m friendly with everybody that was sort of involved. And I just called and I said, “Hey, I’ll definitely act in one for you, I think that’s great. I’d love to be a part of it but I’d really love to direct one as well. And I’m happy to pitch you some things and see if we can come with up something.” I knew I could find something that they’d like. And sure enough we did. And we shot it. It’s been a couple months now.

It’s a coming-of-age story starring Chloë Grace Moretz, who plays Hit Girl in the current “Kick-Ass,” along with Chris Mintz-Plasse — Mr. McLovin — and Jimmy Bennett. So I directed some kids, actually. It was just pretty great.

Besides Alec Baldwin, was there anyone else you enjoyed working with on “30 Rock”?

It’s the nicest group of people working in TV. I mean, I really couldn’t have been made more welcome there. The cast and crew are incredible. I mean, I felt very lucky because I’ve actually made movies with a lot of people on the crew. So when I got there the first day, it was a lot of hugs all around because I knew the DP [director of photography] and I knew the sound guys and I knew some of the PAs [production assistants], and it was great. It was a very welcoming set.

You’ve also done different genres like horror, comedy, even animation. Which one do you feel or consider to be the hardest one to do?

Every genre presents different challenges. And we actors all have our little toolbox that we open up and we pull out whatever tools we need on any given day. They get us through and hopefully entertain people and be honest and truthful in the scene that we’re performing in.

Do you have a friendly competition with Tina Fey or the other specific cast members to out-funny each other?

No, there’s no competition on set. We just hang out just like friends and hang out. And if something funny comes up, something funny comes up. I mean, we’re not sitting around trying to make each other laugh. It’s a very professional place where we all work really long hours. They write really great jokes. You don’t have to do much to improve on the jokes that they write.

If you weren’t married, would you date someone like Jack Donaghy in real life?

In real life? No. I believe in dating someone your own age. I’m really only attracted to people my own age. That’s just how I am. It’s always been my way. I’ve never understood dating sort of outside of your age range. Even though when it’s like people say, “Well, 30 to 40 is not really that different.” I think there’s a big difference between 30 and 40. And I like to be in a relationship with someone who’s at the same place in their life that I’m at.

So Jack Donaghy would be too old for you then?

Well, I would never call Jack Donaghy too old for anybody because he’s so charming and lovely. You’re not going to beat me into saying that.

So there’s no truth to the rumors that linked you with Chris Pine recently?

Chris Pine and I are friendly and we did share a car to and from a few events. But we are just friends. Paul Rudd was also in the car with us that night, but no one mentioned that. I was in a three-way with Paul and Chris Pine; now that would have been news.

How much if any of your dialogue in “30 Rock” is ad libbed?

None of it is ad-libbed. On the first day that I got there, I said, “Hey, do we ad-lib on this show?” And I was told, “No, no ad-libbing. ” Those writers work very, very hard in that writer’s room for a really long time perfecting those jokes, so we just do our best to say them. And if something fun sort of comes out of it, in the moment it’s not like forbidden, but it’s sort of rendered unnecessary.

What else are you watching on TV right now?

I’m watching “Justified.” My buddy Timothy Olyphant in “Justified,” who I think is great. I’m a huge “Lost” fan … I’m devastated that the series is ending. I also watch “The Office.” And a few other shows. I’m excited for “True Blood” and “Mad Men” to come back.

How do you view the love triangle between Avery, Jack and Nancy?

Well, the best thing about it is that I never see Nancy, so, I mean, I don’t even know who [she is]. Jack has not revealed to me who his other dalliances are with. I think Jack and Avery are both grown-ups and … I’m sure Avery feels competitive with this person, which is why she sort of put it to Jack that he needed to decide, but she’s a big girl and she’ll get over it whatever ends up happening.

Do you think they’ll all go their separate ways or will Avery win out over Nancy for Jack’s affections?

Well, see, you’ll have to watch [on May 20], because there is a conclusion to that question.

What was it like on the “30 Rock” set with Matt Damon, Will Forte and Michael Sheen?

It’s pretty great. There were a lot of Oscar nominees on the set that day. I actually did not work with Matt Damon because his schedule. His schedule got a little messed up and he ended up coming in after we had wrapped the season to shoot just with Tina. So we actually worked with this photo double on the days. So I did not meet Matt Damon.

But Michael Sheen is a doll. And I love Leslie, I think that’s a great character for him. I love him with Tina. Will Forte looks so amazing on the season finale I cannot wait for people to see what he’s dressed as. I took about eight photos of myself with him because I’m just so excited to have evidence that I was there when he was dressed the way he’s going to be dressed.

With your ties to Massachusetts, did you have any input regarding Julianne Moore’s character who’s from Boston?

I did not … I thought you were going to ask me about the Celtics … Julianne is a phenomenal actress and knows lots of people from Boston and is kind of killing it, I think. But yes, I grew up Catholic in Massachusetts so I’m super-aware of what she’s pulling off on the show. I think she’s probably not from Boston proper, I think she’s probably from like Norwood or something. But we’ll see.

What are your thoughts on the state of women in film and television both in front of the camera and behind it?

Well, I believe that women in film, technically the organization Women in Film, just came out with new statistics. And like most other things in the world, Fortune 500 companies, or the Senate, we make up I believe less than double-digit percentage wise of people behind the camera whether it be produce writers or produce directors and – or producers for that matter. So it’s a sad state of affairs my friends.

Can you tell us about your movie “The Details”?

“The Details” is sort of a black comedy, I suppose I would call it. It’s a deep movie about myself and Tobey Maguire. We play a couple who are having trouble in our marriage. And we sort of approach different people to sort of help us get through our marriage — help or hurt us I suppose get through our marriage, including Laura Linney, who gives an amazing turn in the movie, Kerry Washington, Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert. So it’s a really cool ensemble. And, yeah, it focuses really on Tobey trying not to mess up his life.

What’s next for you?

I don’t actually. For the first time in a long time I don’t actually know what I’m going to do immediately next. I have some ideas but nothing that I’m willing to talk about on this call today.

Are any of your projects listed on IMDB.com actual potential projects?

Yeah, for sure. I’d say there’s a lot of potential. I hate jinxing things. I’m not a very superstitious person, but about work things I am actually superstitious, so I don’t really want to say.

If you’re not working on something immediately how are you going to spend your summer?

I’m almost definitely going to take a job. It just depends which one I’m going to take, but I’m almost definitely going to take a job. So we’ll see. That will probably come to light in the next little bit. And if I don’t take a job, that will be fabulous because I have not been home for more than eight days in a row since July 4 of last year. I’m more than happy to spend my summer lying around my pool here in lovely Los Angeles.

You’ve got your production company. Do you think you’re making a dent for female roles?

I’m hoping to. My husband and I, we really try and only produce movies that we want to see get made. And we don’t focus on sort of female-driven stuff partially, because unfortunately, that’s a bad business decision. But I for sure am very interested. I’ve been really focused on trying to direct more and more. I’ve been doing some shorts for Funny or Die, and I’ve attached myself to a feature. And I’d love to see that be the next phase of my life in Hollywood.

Would you like to direct an episode of “30 Rock”?

Maybe. Never say never. You never know. I will say though there’s a lot of people that want to direct “30 Rock.” They’ve already put their names on the wait list so a long list.

You seemed really excited about “The Next Three Days.” Is that going to be a really big action-adventure film for you?

Yeah, it is. It’s a bit of a psychological thriller mixed with an action movie. And Russell’s amazing. It’s based on a French film called “Pour Elle”/”For Her.” And I’m really, really, really thrilled about it. Paul Haggis is amazing; he wrote a great character for me. And I’m really excited for people to see it.

From the Examiner

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at 1:24 am and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.