Elizabeth Banks shines in new L'Oreal Paris ad

Homegrown beauty Elizabeth Banks has taken a star turn since raising eyebrows with her role in "Zack and Miri Make a Porno."

Teaming up with Beyonce and Eva Longoria, the Pittsfield native recently signed a deal with L'Oreal Paris to be a spokesperson for the company which includes print and TV ads for L'Oreal Paris' True Match "Compact Revolution."

"Elizabeth's talent and beauty is matched by her intelligence and approachability," Karen T. Fondu, president of the L'Oreal Paris, says here. "She has a natural charm and an incredible ability to captivate an audience."

Banks, producer of the upcoming made-in-Boston sci-fi film "The Surrogates," is currently in theaters playing wicked stepmother Rachel in a remake of the Korean horror flick "The Uninvited."

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

"Buy me on eBay! Well, my voice actually."

--Elizabeth Banks, Pittsfield native who plays the wicked step mom in "The Uninvited" and is the producer of the made-in-Boston sci-fi flick "The Surrogates," tweets here that she's auctioning of a personalized message on eBay to benefit International Medical Corps.

"When you've been where I've been, to cut to all these years later and I've gotten to play Rorschach, and I'm standing across from Leo, doing a scene for Marty. And I'm calling him Marty! Man, It doesn't get any better than this!"

--Resurrected child star Jackie Earle Haley talks about his role in Martin Scorsese's made-in-Boston flick "Shutter Island."

"I feel very fortunate, because there is going to be a mammoth amount of work in this area. I’m trying to build a whole new database of actors from the South Shore so that I can hire or my colleagues can hire me to book for them.''

--South Shore-based casting director Jodi Purdy-Quinlan gushes to The Patriot Ledger saying she's preparing for an onslaught of locally-shot flicks within the next few months.

"Seeing myself on the screen. It was a little embarrassing, but I liked it. Watching some scenes though, I thought to myself that I could have done something different, said a line in a different way."

--Michael Chen, a rising film co-star of the made-in-Boston and NYC flick "Children of Invention," says he enjoys seeing himself on the big screen.

“When it comes to making your business, of course you need experts’ advice, but at some point, you have to go with your gut."

--Walden Media President Michael Flaherty spills to a crew of Boston University students that filmmaking is “all about risk-taking.”

Elizabeth Banks gets wicked in 'The Uninvited'

Homegrown beauty Elizabeth Banks has taken a star turn since raising eyebrows with her role in "Zack and Miri Make a Porno."

The Pittsfield native, slotted to be the keynote speaker at the Commonwealth Awards on Tuesday, Jan 13, recently signed a deal with L'Oreal Paris to be a spokesperson for the company which includes print and TV ads hitting the U.S. in February.

"Elizabeth's talent and beauty is matched by her intelligence and approachability," Karen T. Fondu, president of the L'Oreal Paris, says here. "She has a natural charm and an incredible ability to captivate an audience."

Banks, producer of the upcoming made-in-Boston sci-fi film "The Surrogates" and a featured presenter at the Golden Globes and VH1's Critics' Choice Awards, plays wicked stepmother Rachel in a remake of the Korean horror flick "The Uninvited," hitting theaters Friday, Jan. 30.

The film revolves around Anna (played by Emily Browning) who returns home after spending time in a mental hospital recovering from the tragic death of her mother. Her recovery suffers a setback when she learns her father has become engaged to her mother's former nurse Rachel (played by Banks). That night, Anna is visited by her mother's ghost warning her of Rachel's wicked intentions.

Click here for the lowdown on "The Uninvited."
Photo source DreamWorks LLC and Cold Spring Pictures.

Elizabeth Banks hosts local Commonwealth Awards

Elizabeth Banks, a Pittsfield native and producer of the upcoming made-in-Boston sci-fi film "The Surrogates," is slotted to be the keynote speaker at the Commonwealth Awards on Tuesday, Jan 13 from 1-4 p.m. at the Massachusetts State House.

The hometown gal, who recently starred in "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" and vamps it up in the "The Uninvited," will give out the awards honoring individuals and organizations that made significant contributions to the Bay State. The ceremony is sponsored by the Mass. Cultural Council.

Banks, who makes her debut as a producer in the upcoming sci-fi flick starring Bruce Willis, spills to Sci Fi Wire that she opted for a behind-the-scenes role in "The Surrogates" because she didn't want to be misconstrued as an actress with vanity projects.

“I really want to be perceived as a legitimate producer, and I think one of the best ways to do that is to not act in the movies you’re producing,” she says.

Banks tells MTV.com that her behind-the-scenes romp with futuristic robots was, well, intellectually stimulating.

"People don't actually live their lives, but they send surrogate robots to go do everything for them — their work, their relationships, everything. They just sit at home and experience it in a chair," she says.

Banks continues, "So, you have all the sensation of a life, but you don't physically live it. It's interesting, because men can be women, women can be men, and ugly people can be beautiful."

Click here for the lowdown on the Commonwealth Awards.