Elizabeth Banks: Still Big On the Small Screen – and Beyond
Elizabeth Banks may be physically small on screen in Peacock’s The Miniature Wife, but her Hollywood star power is anything but. The actress, director, producer, and entrepreneur continues to redefine what it means to be a multi-hyphenate in the entertainment industry.
From Blockbusters to Boutique Television
In real life, Elizabeth Banks is a force of nature. She’s built a remarkable career with huge franchises like The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect under her belt. She’s also a member of the exclusive club of actors who successfully transitioned into directing, with her latest feature, Cocaine Bear, grossing over $90 million on a modest production budget. Beyond film, Banks is a prolific television producer, with a new passion project debuting at SXSW, and even a wine entrepreneur with Archer Roose Wines.
The Miniature Wife: A Relationship Study in a Unique Package
So, it’s perhaps a playful irony that her latest character in The Miniature Wife, premiering on Peacock in early April, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who is accidentally shrunk to just six inches tall. Based on a short story by Manuel Gonzales, Banks plays Lindy Littlejohn, a successful novelist and creative writing professor navigating a relationship renaissance – or lack thereof – with her self-absorbed husband, Les (played brilliantly by Matthew Macfadyen of Succession).
“I loved the idea from the jump,” Banks shares. “It’s a relationship study. It’s about the power dynamic of a couple. It’s about a woman who lives in a world that’s not made for her. It has this absurdist lens. It’s certainly a metaphor for feeling small in the world. As women, all of our hopes and dreams and desires are always being minimized. We’re so often made to feel small.”
Behind the Scenes: A Challenging and Rewarding Role
Creators Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner, known for their work on Goliath and Boardwalk Empire, say Banks was their first and only choice for the role. “She has this ability to move seamlessly from the most ridiculous physical comedy of battling a giant fly to the raw vulnerability of giving her daughter, with whom she has a strained relationship, a nose hug—all while being six inches tall,” they explain. “She’s such a gifted physical comedian. Her comedic timing is brilliant.”
The role wasn’t without its challenges. Banks admits she was perhaps the least prepared for this job compared to others in her career. A significant portion of the filming involved green screen work, requiring her to convincingly portray a half-foot-tall woman. “I’m in a coffee mug in front of a green screen making eye contact with a ball on a stick,” Banks recalls, describing the often-solitary experience. Despite the technical hurdles, Banks embraced the absurdity, even riding an electric scooter covered in ash during a scene where her character burns down a dollhouse.
A Career Defined by Freshness and Entertainment
Banks’ approach to her career is rooted in a desire to create something fresh and entertaining. She actively seeks projects that tap into the current zeitgeist while offering a new perspective. She even considers her two teenage sons’ tastes when evaluating potential projects, enjoying shows like Only Murders in the Building and classics like The Simpsons with them.
Looking back at her iconic roles in films like The Hunger Games and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Banks reflects on the formula for achieving lasting impact: “You give audiences something that’s a little bit safe and then you go transgressive, a little bit messy and dangerous. I think that’s where it happens.”
Whether she’s shrinking on screen or building an empire off it, Elizabeth Banks continues to disrupt the system and inspire with her ambition, talent, and unwavering commitment to her craft. As she says, “We live in an incredible time. And if you’re a woman who does things, you’re disruptive. But you know what? It’s really fun.”
