Elizabeth Banks recently opened up about her humble beginnings before becoming a Hollywood star. The actress revealed she worked as a chambermaid at a bed and breakfast, where her duties included cleaning toilets and removing flushed condoms and tampons.
Banks shared this surprising detail during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. She explained how this early job shaped her work ethic and prepared her for the unpredictable nature of life in the entertainment industry.
Elizabeth Banks’ Early Struggles Before Fame
Before landing roles in The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect, Banks worked multiple odd jobs. She spent a decade as a waitress and took on the challenging role of a chambermaid at 17.
“I started working really young. I’ve done everything. I was a waitress for a decade. I also was a chambermaid at a bed and breakfast,” Banks told Kelly Clarkson.
When Clarkson joked that “chambermaid” sounded fancy, Banks clarified: “It means I cleaned toilets.” She then gave a blunt piece of advice to hotel guests.
Banks’ Plea to Hotel Guests: “Stop Flushing These Things”
The actress described the unpleasant task of removing non-flushable items from toilets. She urged people to be more considerate of hotel staff.
“Please stop flushing things other than teepee down toilets. Like the amount of condoms and tampons I had to dig out of toilets as a 17-year-old is shocking to me,” she said.
Despite the unpleasantness, Banks sees the experience as character-building. She joked that it made her resilient in Hollywood.
“Kelly, I can go anywhere. It’s not glamorous, this life you lead. You end up going a lot of crazy places, and I’m like, ‘I’ve been worse.’”
How Her Chambermaid Job Prepared Her for Hollywood
Banks believes her early jobs taught her discipline and humility. She worked hard before finding success in acting, which began after a sports injury led her to try theater.
“I got into acting by accident. I literally fell into performing,” she once told Harper’s Bazaar. A broken leg from softball forced her to join a school play, where she discovered her passion for acting.
Her first role was Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar. She loved the teamwork, similar to sports, and decided to pursue acting seriously.
Elizabeth Banks’ Rise to Fame
After studying at the University of Pennsylvania and the American Conservatory Theater, Banks moved to Los Angeles. She changed her last name from Mitchell to Banks to avoid confusion with another actress.
Her breakthrough came with Spider-Man (2002), where she played Betty Brant. She later starred in The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), and Pitch Perfect (2012).
Banks also directed Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and Charlie’s Angels (2019). She continues to act, produce, and host shows like Press Your Luck.
Her Kids Have No Interest in Acting
Banks shares two sons, Felix (14) and Magnus (12), with her husband Max Handelman. She revealed they have no plans to follow her into acting.
“If my kids decide to get into acting, which they have currently no interest in, then I would be thrilled to ever do anything with them,” she told PEOPLE. “It’s unlikely. In fact, it would have to be a paying job for them to actually want to hang out with me.”
Her son once participated in a school play but wasn’t impressed. “That was a lot of effort for flowers and some applause!” he told her.
What’s Next for Elizabeth Banks?
Banks currently stars in The Better Sister, a thriller series on Prime Video with Jessica Biel. The show premiered on May 29, 2025.
Despite her $50 million net worth, Banks stays grounded. Her early struggles as a chambermaid and waitress remind her that success comes from hard work.
Her story inspires many who dream of breaking into Hollywood. Banks proves that even the most glamorous stars often start with humble, unglamorous jobs.
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Credits: Sources include PEOPLE, SoapCentral, Daily Mail, and Yahoo News.
