Skincare Star Elizabeth Banks on How She Keeps Her Fans Guessing

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen his fair share of twists and turns in both virtual and real-life scenarios, I can confidently say that Elizabeth Banks is a chameleonic actress who keeps me on my toes! From her comedic stints to her genre-bending directorial ventures, she never fails to surprise me.

Elisabeth Banks’ career is unpredictable, with fans never knowing what she will do next. While she initially gained fame for comedic roles like “Wet Hot American Summer,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” she has also ventured into genres such as Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy, “Slither,” and the “Hunger Games” series. Things get even more interesting when Banks directs films, as seen in projects like “Charlie’s Angels” and “Cocaine Bear.” In her upcoming film, “Skincare,” she takes on a neo-noir role with a complex plot that mirrors the twists and turns of her creative journey. “Skincare” will be exclusively available in theaters starting August 16th.

Around a decade back, I faced significant challenges with my brand, much like Hope Goldman, as I had an audience that recognized me from comedies such as “30 Rock” and “40-Year-Old Virgin,” who expected more of the same from me. As Banks explained to ComicBook, they would say, “You’re the cute blonde, you need to be in comedies.” On the other hand, I also had fans who knew me from movies like “Seabiscuit” and my dramatic roles in films like “Call Jane,” which led me to feel that I needed to conform to certain expectations. I thought, “If I don’t fit into a particular box, nobody recognizes me,” and it seemed that I was missing out on opportunities because people would say, “No, she doesn’t do that.” Yet, others would argue, “Of course she does.” This left me quite puzzled.

She added, “I believe my consistent dedication to my profession has shaped the image I present. I aim to astonish you, as I have earned your trust. My goal is to entertain in every possible way, across all genres and at all times. Connecting with my audience and maintaining their trust is what matters most to me. I hope they anticipate surprises from me now, and this challenge excites me – ‘How can I surprise them next?'”

In a nutshell, renowned skincare expert Hope Goldman (portrayed by Elizabeth Banks) is set to elevate her career by introducing her own skincare line. However, her journey becomes complicated when rival skincare specialist Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo M?ndez) opens a business right opposite hers. As Hope suspects someone is trying to tarnish her reputation and undermine her business, she teams up with friend Jordan (Lewis Pullman) to uncover the identity of the culprit who threatens her personal and professional life.

As a dedicated gamer immersed in “Skincare,” I’ve always been intrigued by its narrative. Though it was inspired by a true-life event, I, as a creator, didn’t solely rely on that incident for my portrayal. Instead, I sought out various other influences to shape the game’s depiction, ensuring an engaging and authentic experience for fellow gamers like myself.

The actor admitted that they eventually read the article, which was inspired by real-life events as described by the director. In essence, the film “Cocaine Bear” is based on a true story that has been heavily fictionalized. By that point, the character I portrayed had already been modeled after several other women. The atmosphere and aesthetic of the time period reminded me of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” The behavior and attitude of the characters in this series resonated with me as being similar to Hope Goldman’s. I imagined that if she had a wealthy husband, she would have aspired to be on that reality TV show. That was what fascinated me most.

She mentioned, “I’m relieved it wasn’t a real person we were creating; Hope Goldman remained fictional throughout. I enjoyed infusing her with various references, which I found delightful, and these were scattered around depending on whether I was in the costume or makeup department. It was entertaining to decide who she should resemble and how she should act.”

Following the launch of intriguing ventures, it was revealed in 2019 that Banks had been working on “The Invisible Woman,” a project modeled after the 1940s screwball comedy with the same title. Despite Universal Pictures focusing more on expanding the “Invisible Man” series following its success in 2020, Banks remains optimistic about eventually making her project a reality.

Banks shared that they have made an “Invisible Man” movie, and another one is currently in production. However, he mentioned that Universal wants to complete this project first. He expressed his enthusiasm for the concept they have, which remains intact, but it’s not a priority at the moment. Instead, he’s focusing on a TV show he’s producing now, followed by another one. After these projects are done, they’ll figure out what’s next.

Skincare lands exclusively in theaters on August 16th.

1. “Excited for the upcoming film? Connect with Patrick Cavanaugh on Twitter or Instagram for a chat about everything related to Star Wars and horror!”

2024-08-12 21:10

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