Banks in 2012, photo by PR Photos
Birth Name: Elizabeth Irene Mitchell
Place of Birth: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 10, 1974
Ethnicity: Irish, English, Scottish
Elizabeth Banks is an American actress, director, and producer. She is known for her roles in Wet Hot American Summer, Spider-Man, Seabiscuit, The Hunger Games, Invincible, Role Models, The Uninvited, The Lego Movie, Love & Mercy, Power Rangers (2017), Scrubs, Modern Family, and Brightburn, among many other works. She has directed the films Pitch Perfect 2, Charlie’s Angels (2019), and Cocaine Bear.
Elizabeth is the daughter of Ann, a bank employee, and Mark Mitchell, a factory worker. She is married to producer and writer Max Handelman, with whom she has two children.
Elizabeth was raised in a family of Protestant and Catholic background. Elizabeth’s husband is from a Jewish family, and Elizabeth went through the process of converting to Judaism. In 2013, she stated of her religion:
I did not have my mikveh, so technically I’m not converted… I’ve been essentially a Jew for like 15 years… I haven’t had a Christmas tree in 15 years… Frankly, because I’m already doing everything [in terms of religious practice], I feel like I’m as Jewish as I’m ever going to be.
Elizabeth’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Phineas/Phineus Mitchell (the son of Joseph Irving Mitchell and Elizabeth/Lizzie Clara Stearns). Elizabeth’s grandfather Joseph was born in Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Elizabeth’s great-grandfather Joseph was the son of Joseph Isadore Mitchell, who was born in Leicester, England, and of Mary Jane Holmes. Elizabeth’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of Edward L. Stearns and Julia B. Moore, and was of Colonial American descent.
Elizabeth’s paternal grandmother was Clarissa Adrienne Knox (the daughter of Clarence K. Knox and Catharine/Catherine J. McCabe). Clarissa was born in Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Clarence was born in Massachusetts, the son of Scottish parents, Hugh Knox, who was born in Glasgow, and Catherine/Katherine Gray. Elizabeth’s great-grandmother Catherine was the daughter of Irish parents, Owen McCabe, who was born in Dublin, and Catharine/Catherine Teevan/Tivans, who was born in Northern Ireland.
Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather was Richard Edward Wallace (the son of Richard Cullen Wallace and Anna M. Kirby). Elizabeth’s grandfather Richard was born in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Elizabeth’s great-grandfather Richard was born in Massachusetts, the son of James Aloysius Wallace, whose father was from Nova Scotia, Canada, and whose mother was Irish; and of Christine Ella/A. Ryan, who was also of Irish descent. Elizabeth’s great-grandmother Anna was born in Massachusetts, the daughter of Edward P. Kirby, who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, to a Canadian/English father and an Irish mother; and of Elizabeth Agnes O’Connor, whose parents were also Irish.
Elizabeth’s maternal grandmother was Irene W. Howard (the daughter of Webster Eugene Howard and Eleanor M. Casey). Irene was born in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, and had Irish and English ancestry, including deep Colonial American roots. Elizabeth’s great-grandfather Webster was the son of Charles William Howard, who was born in Wilton, Franklin, Maine, and of Alice C. Miskelly. Eleanor was the daughter of Richard L. Casey, whose parents were Irish, with his father being from County Cork; and of Eleanor/Ellen M. Carney, whose family was also Irish.
Sources: Genealogies of Elizabeth Banks – https://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com
Genealogy of Elizabeth Banks (focusing on her father’s side) – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com
Elizabeth’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Julia B. Moore, on the 1865 New York State Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather, Richard Edward Wallace – http://www.pittsfield.com
Elizabeth’s maternal great-grandparents, Richard Cullen Wallace and Anna M. Kirby, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Elizabeth Banks discusses her religion – http://www.jewcy.com
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