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

For her latest appearance on 30 Rock, Elizabeth Banks joins big name guest stars Matt Damon and Michael Sheen along with SNL regular Jason Sudekis for “I Do Do” that sees Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon meet the man of her dreams.

Ahead of 30 Rock, we snagged a few brief minutes with Elizabeth Banks to find out more about “I Do Do”, her 30 Rock guest spot, and what it was like on the 30 Rock set with so many stars.

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

ELIZABETH BANKS: Well, the best thing about it is that I never see Nancy, so I don’t even know who – You know, Jack has not revealed to me who his other dalliances are with. I think Jack and Avery are both grownups 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.

THE DEADBOLT: What was it like on set with Matt Damon, Will Forte, and Michael Sheen?

BANKS: 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 got a little messed up and he ended up coming in after we had wrapped the season to shoot just with Tina Fey. So we actually worked with this photo double on the days. So I did not meet Matt Damon.

Michael Sheen is a doll and I love Leslie. I think that’s a great character for him. I love him with Tina. I mean, Will Forte looks so amazing on the season finale, I can’t 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 Thursday night.

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

BANKS: Everyone 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 really working in a zone right now. 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 Fey and by the scripts. So I think he’s pretty happy there. They certainly make a big effort to keep him happy there. I hope he’s happy with me, too.

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?

BANKS: 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?

BANKS: 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 book, 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.

How is everything going to come to a head, are you going to have a face-off with Julianne Moore?

BANKS: 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?

BANKS: 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.

Well 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?

BANKS: 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. It was a call-back to that because then I think Star Magazine or something put – I’ll tell you what. I get called Chelsea [and] 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. You’re an active participant on Twitter; why is that so important for you?

BANKS: I just like having a direct connection to my fans. That’s why I think Twitter is so [powerful[. To me 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, 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.

I'm curious to know 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 regulars who have been there for ...

BANKS: 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 - I think [Alice] referred to it Cheetah pace. And I would say that’s true. You know, 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. And 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.

From The Deadbolt

Even some of Hollywood’s most in-demand actresses have to occasionally beg for work. Take Elizabeth Banks. The star of 40-year-old Virgin, W., and Zack and Miri Make a Porno tells me that her upcoming 30 Rock gig resulted from her reaching out to the Emmy-winning comedy and not the other way around. “I definitely put feelers out, like, ‘I would love to be on your show,’” she confesses. “And they did it. They made it happen! I’m a huge fan, so this is a dream come true.”

Banks, who is on board for at least four episodes (the first of which airs in February), plays a right-leaning financial guru who falls for fellow conservative Jack (Alec Baldwin) after he appears as a guest on her CNBC talk show. “She’s basically Sean Hannity in a skirt,” she explains. “What’s great about her relationship with Jack is they’re equals. She’s not some [pretty] young thing that he has a fling with. She really challenges him.”

Despite a string of sitcom appearances — her Rock role follows stints on Modern Family and Scrubs — Banks says she’s “having too much fun making movies” to commit to a TV show full-time. To wit, she just wrapped the Paul Haggis thriller The Next Three Days (she plays Russell Crowe’s incarcerated wife). “The [TV jobs] are a really fun thing to do between movie gigs,” she says. “On Monday I’m hanging out of a car [filming Three Days], and on Tuesday I’m working with two national treasures, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin — not to mention Tracy Morgan.”

From the Ausiello Files

Elizabeth Banks is the most beautiful woman in the world. On top of that, she’s a gifted comic actor, she swears like sailor both on and off screen, she’s got a great laugh, and she’s given a steady string of solid performances in recent years that has made her one of the most sought after actresses of her generation. I distinctly remember noticing her for the first time in WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, and she’s gone on to star in nearly all of the films from the men and women who made MTV’s “The State,” including THE BAXTER and the upcoming ROLE MODELS. She’s played Betty Brant in all three SPIDER-MAN movies, Jeff Bridges wife in SEABISCUIT, and the insatiable Beth in THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN. The woman stole my heart in the romantic-comedy SLITHER (that’s a joke, by the way, but Banks is awesome in this film), she looked great in an elf costume in FRED CLAUS, and she made Ryan Reynolds one lucky S.O.B. as one of his love interests in DEFINITELY, MAYBE.

And considering what I’ve been hearing about the screenplay for Oliver Stone’s W., I think Banks’ comic skills may come in very handy playing Laura Bush. By my count, Banks will be seen in three more movies before the year is out, including Kevin Smith’s ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO. She plays Miri, a woman who self-admittedly likes to fuck. Considering the X-rated nature of Smith’s plot about a best friends who decide the make an amateur porn to make some money, Banks feels like the ideal, open-minded, fearless lady to embody Miri. You only need re-watch the “I’m Fucking Seth Rogen” video on YouTube to know that the woman is utterly without boundaries.

This interview was conducted literally mere minutes after Banks and the rest of the ZACK AND MIRI panel members stepped off stage at Comic-Con. We were literally sitting behind the stage. So here is the woman I will forever refer to as simply “Banks” because she told me I could.

Elizabeth Banks: So who are you with?

Capone: Ain’t It Cool News.

EB: Love it. Love Ain’t It Cool.

Capone: Have you been to Comic-Con before?

EB: Yeah, I came for SLITHER.

Capone: Of course, and you’re my hero for being in SLITHER, because it’s one of the greatest times I had in the movie theater that year.

EB: It is a great movie, I know. It’s one of those marketing debacles I think doomed it to fail. It was really funny, but they didn’t know whether it was a comedy or a horror movie. “What do we do?”

Capone: In talking to Seth Rogen just before the panel, we got to talking about how ZACK AND MIRI almost inadvertently tackles the serious economic crunch that a lot of people are going through right now.

EB: I know, the economy is a mess, and that’s what the movie is about. Someone asked me earlier if I could relate to Miri, and I grew up lower-middle class. We had days where we went to grandma’s house to take baths, and it was like “Yay, we’re going to grandma’s house to take a bath!” But it was because we didn’t have hot water, which my parents didn’t want to tell us. So instead we had fun nights at grandma’s house. I totally get it. It makes sense to me that these guys feel as desperate as they do. Kevin does a good job of writing out the circumstances for them but not taking things so seriously. It’s just porn; it’s just people fucking, you know? Let’s do it; let’s make money.

[At this point, not realizing that there's an interview going on, Traci Lords interrupts our conversation to say good-bye to Elizabeth. As Traci is about to leave, Elizabeth says…]

You look gorgeous. That was really fun; they really love you in there. [Turns to me] Cultural icon Traci Lords. Woohoo!

Capone: Can’t argue with that.

EB: So yes, the economic stakes are the stakes of the movie. And the stakes are, these are two aimless people. The just don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing in their lives. Through this process, they find a sense of purpose, as well as they love of their life.

Capone: You’re beautifully aligned yourself with a couple really great groups of comic actors, including the group that works with Kevin Smith. But you’ve also worked with the guys and gals from “The State,” and you’re in with the Apatow crowd. How did you get in with David Wain and the other “State” crowd?

EB: I auditioned for the lead role in WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, which was my first movie and that was their first movie that they made. So we were all kind of these New Yorkers with the same sensibility. I’m totally tooting my own horn here, but they thought I was too pretty to play the lead, that I was too hot, which I was like, “Awesome!” So I ended up playing Lindsay…was that her name? I play characters named Beth in a lot of movies [laughs]. At any rate, that’s how I started with them. I literally just got called in by their casting director, and I was pretty and funny, and I think that’s a combo that are not a dime a dozen.

Capone: Pretty and smart, but not in a Marilyn Monroe way. You don’t often play dumb characters.

EB: Every once and a while I play a true idiot, and they’re really fun to play. [laughs]

Capone: There has been so much talk about you playing Laura Bush and the movie W. in general, as there often is with any Oliver Stone movie. Because it’s you playing her, I have to wonder if you’re playing it for laughs.

EB: I play all my comedies straight, do you know what I mean? Beth, my character in 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, I think those scenes play funny because they’re really real, you know? And I treat this material the same as I treat that material, in that I’m just trying to find the most real moments I can to put on screen, because that’s what’s funny to people. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” is fucking funny because it’s real people. YouTube is a phenomenon because we like to see people fall off their bike or run over their husband’s foot or see a cat attack you. It’s all real shit. So when you make it character based, I think that to me makes the best comedy.

Capone: Then forgive me, I asked the question wrong. Is W. something we’re meant to laugh at?

EB: I think that…you know what? It’s a movie that covers a life, and in all lives there is tragedy, there is humor, there is everything. So yeah, there are definitely funny moments in the movie. I would not call it a comedy. But look, the guy choked on a peanut or something when he was alone…

Capone: I believe it was a pretzel.

EB: A pretzel, right. And he almost died. If you saw that in a movie or saw that happening to someone, you would laugh your ass off. It’s not like there isn’t fodder for us to use.

Capone: I noticed that everyone I’ve talked to this week who knows you calls you “Banks.” Is that what you tell people to call you?

EB: That’s a high school thing. My real last name is Mitchell, and I was Mitch or Mitchell my whole life. It’s a sports thing, and I played sports. I call myself Banks because Elizabeth is long and very formal, and Banks is short and sweet and simple, so everybody ends up calling you Banks. You can call me Banks if you want.

Capone: I will.

EB: Banks or Banksie, either one.

Capone: The clip from ZACK AND MIRI that Kevin just showed are the first scenes I’ve seen from it. Tell me a little bit about Miri. What kind of person is she?

EB: Well, that clip was from our 10-year high school reunion. She’s an orphan, an aimless loser orphan. She works at a kiosk in the mall. She doesn’t have a lot of ambition. She and Zack are kind of stoners, and they just hang out. They don’t aspire to have anything and they don’t have anything, because they don’t now what they’re missing, or they do but it’s too depressing to think about it. She’s a really regular, small-town person, and that’s all she ever needed to be. She basically just wants to get through life. And she’s in love with Zack, and he doesn’t know it.

Capone: This film smells a bit like a romance under all this flesh peddling.

EB: It’s very romantic. I mean, it’s uber-romantic, this movie. It’s what sold me on the movie. It’s why I can’t believe the MPAA is giving us so much shit, because really the movie has so much heart. Meanwhile SAW 2 is about people cutting off each other’s limbs and blood gushing everywhere is an R. We make this big, heartfelt movie where people happen to fuck each other, and we get an NC-17. I mean, we don’t even show dick. We’re not really showing any penis.

Capone: You hinted during the panel that you had a concern about possibly doing nudity for this movie.

EB: Yeah. But no, I was going to do it, I was willing to do it. It was my first…I mean, there is a sex scene; we make a porno. It was more about how far we were going to go with it that was really my concern. But it’s beautiful.

Capone: I can’t wait to see it. Thank you so much.

EB: It was very nice to meet you.

From Aint It Cool News