Elizabeth Banks: I'm a tough cookie

Elizabeth Banks is one of the “toughest” people in Hollywood.

The 41-year-old star has made her name as an actress in flicks like The Hunger Games and also impressed as a director behind the scenes of Pitch Perfect 2.

But don’t be fooled by her butter-wouldn’t-melt looks: Elizabeth can hold her own, which she thinks is the key to her success.

“I might not look it, but I’m tougher than most of my colleagues. I know all the tricks!” she assured German magazine TV Movie.

One thing she particularly wants to fight is ageism in Hollywood. She believes looking youthful has become a craze in her industry, which is partially what pushed her behind the camera.

“It’s one of the reasons I tried directing,” she explained. “Because looks and age don’t play any part in it. It makes for a refreshing change!”

Still, Elizabeth seems to defy her age in the role of Paris in Magic Mike XXL, where she takes to the stage in a tiny dress as host of a stripper competition.

She’s also confirmed as a producer for Pitch Perfect 3, which has a release date of 2017 and sees her return in the role of Gail. Whether she’ll be back as director isn’t clear, but one thing’s for sure: Elizabeth will keep surprising Hollywood.

“On top of acting, I started producing and directing because I knew I had more to offer an industry that clearly didn’t expect too much from me,” she previously explained.