RATINGS: Cast & Crew

DOB: February 10, 1974

Background: Banks is an American actress who was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She played sports until a leg injury and then decided to try out for the school play. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996 and earned an MFA from the American Conservatory Theater in 1998.

Filmography: Her professional acting career began with the 1998 film "Surrender Dorothy" followed by "Shaft," "Wet Hot American Summer," "Spider-Man," "Catch Me if You Can," "Seabiscuit," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Invincible," "Fred Claus," "Definitely, Maybe," "W.," "Role Models," "The Next Three Days," and the upcoming "The Hunger Games." Banks has also had numerous TV guest roles, including "Third Watch," "Sex and the City," "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," "Scrubs," "Modern Family," and "30 Rock," for which she earned her first Emmy Award nomination in 2011 for her recurring guest role as Avery Jessup.
 

Emmy Awards:

Best Comedy Guest Actress Nominations
"30 Rock" (2012) - episode "The Return of Avery Jessup"; lost to Kathy Bates ("Two and a Half Men")
"30 Rock" (2011) - episode "Double-Edged Sword"; lost to Gwyneth Paltrow ("Glee")

SAG Awards:

Best Film Ensemble Nomination
"Seabiscuit" (2004); lost to "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"