Elizabeth Banks to get CinemaCon Excellence in Acting Award

PanARMENIAN.Net - Actress Elizabeth Banks will be honored with the "CinemaCon Award for Excellence in Acting" at this year's convention. The news was announced by CinemaCon's Managing Director, Mitch Neuhauser, The Hollywood Reporter said.

“One of Hollywood’s most versatile actresses, Elizabeth Banks has captured movie going audiences’ attention across the globe with her spot-on portrayals of a diverse array of characters,” noted Neuhauser. “From First Lady Laura Bush in W., to the highly fashionable and eccentric Capitol Escort Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games, Banks embraces each role unlike no other actress out there. We are thrilled to be able to honor her this year with the ‘CinemaCon Award for Excellence in Acting.’”

Banks is set to return as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the second movie in the Hunger Games four-part series. Catching Fire picks up where the first film left off, with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) on their Victor's Tour after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games. With a rebellion quietly bubbling in the districts, Panem -- under the watchful eye of President Snow (Donald Sutherland) -- must prepare for the next Hunger Games: The Quarter Quell. The film has a release date of Nov. 22, 2013.

Aside from The Hunger Games series, Banks has most recently starred in the films Pitch Perfect (which she also produced) and What to Expect When You're Expecting. She also held a long-time guest role on the TV series 30 Rock as Alec Baldwin's wife Avery Jessup.

Banks will receive her Excellence in Acting award at CinemaCon's final night gala, held on April 18. The NATO convention will be held from April 15-18 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.