Elizabeth Banks As Effie Trinket: 'Hunger Games' Still Image Debuts

As Lionsgate films continues to release still images from the upcoming blockbuster adaptation of "The Hunger Games," one thing has become clear: all eyes will be on Effie.

Elizabeth Banks plays the brightly made up and costumed adviser to Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) in the highly anticipated film, and in this new photo, revealed as part of a viral marketing campaign, fans get another glimpse of the sheer eccentricity of her costume.

Speaking to The Huffington Post over the weekend, Banks raved about the opportunity to transform herself.

"A fun part of being an actor and a chameleon is taking on those looks," she said. "Effie has a really theatrical, over-the-top, completely not me look to her. I'm very excited for people to see my portrayal. I have no idea if people are going to be into it. I hope they are. I know the filmmakers are and [the book's author] Suzanne Collins blessed everything we did. It was a really fun collaboration between myself and Academy Award-nominated hair and makeup and costume people."

"The Hunger Games" hits theaters on March 23rd.

PHOTO:

Comments

[hypyrwyf]

11:15 AM on 01/13/2012

That's a gorgeous photo! My whole family has read the books, and convinced me they're a good read.

[MiffyAppleton]

10:04 PM on 01/12/2012

It looks good! I was worried that they were going to rip off the costuming from "The Fifth Element" for the Capital.

[N8tracks]

06:15 PM on 01/12/2012

zzzzzzzz

[Archer110]

04:59 PM on 01/12/2012

Love the costuming. Can't wait to see it!!!

[anmalu]

03:37 PM on 01/12/2012

Katniss is specifically olive-skinned, dark eyes, dark hair who repeatedly calls herself not very big so they cast a blond blue-eyed tall actress... ugh. Don't know if I can get past that. Then Peeta is suppose to broad shouldered and strong, they cast someone smaller than Katniss. Oh well! I'm guessing the third book will be changed a lot since it has an odd pacing and viewers might want to smack Katniss, I hated her. The third book in the series to me made the whole thing a waste of time. The first book was very good, excited to see if they can translate it to a movie.

[Phxgwen]

04:19 PM on 01/12/2012

The author was instrumental in casting. She said after seeing all the actresses that she felt only Jennifer Lawrence understood the character and had the acting chops for the part. Sometimes it is more important to get the depth of the character right versus going on matching the look of the character solely to make your decision.

[anmalu]

06:32 PM on 01/12/2012

The director casted her and Collins didn't object. Collins isn't going to undermine the movie she is collaborating on so she praised the one part about Lawrence that fits Katniss, her acting ability. It is disappointing though that she fits no physical aspect of Katniss - no brunettes out there that can act?

[GODZILLA1]

02:33 PM on 01/12/2012

I just hope Hollywood didn't mess with the storyline in the book! They love to do that.

[FaelanGirl]

04:42 PM on 01/12/2012

The author was on the set the whole time, as well as being the screen writer for the film. She has been a major part in the whole film. It is obvious that she is very passionate about her books to be so involved. I think the movie is going to be FANTASTIC!!!!!!

[GODZILLA1]

05:15 PM on 01/12/2012

I am glad to hear this. Thanks so much. All three of her books are engrossing and I say this as a 74 year-old Science fiction reader from way back in the late 1940's. (John Carter of Mars; Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, etc.)

[craftycrow]

02:32 PM on 01/12/2012

Doesn't look like her at all.

[Barry Peterson]

10:21 AM on 01/13/2012

Why not?

[craftycrow]

02:35 PM on 01/13/2012

It looks like a different person. It just does to me.

[Max Shaw]

02:31 PM on 01/12/2012

It looks like Willy Wonka's mail-order Geisha bride..

[getreal23]

12:50 PM on 01/12/2012

I read the book on kindle over the holidays, It's quite good i didn't realize it was a teen book though. lol

[Tiana Moore]

12:42 PM on 01/12/2012

That is to die for gorgeous.

[Therealkarmabug]

11:37 AM on 01/12/2012

Can't wait for the movie to come out! The books are amazing.

[eric14]

10:49 AM on 01/12/2012

Nice photograph. 1920' are roaring back. From vampires to vamps, from goths to goddesses. Small moves from the tired to the truly dramatic. Well, melodramatic. Which is good.

[dn sf]

01:36 PM on 01/12/2012

Check out clothes from the 1920's cuz they look nothing like this.

[eric14]

01:43 PM on 01/12/2012

Make-up is 1920's Flapper clothes you're right.

But there were floozies. Check out Mae Wests clothes.