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Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks

Actor and producer, also director and writer · Born February 10, 1974 (52) · Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

Elizabeth Banks (born February 10, 1974) is an American actress, producer and director. She is known for playing Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games film series (2012–2015) and Gail Abernathy-McKadden in the Pitch Perfect film series (2012–2017). She made her directorial film debut with Pitch Perfect 2 (2015), whose $69 million opening-weekend gross set a record for a first-time director. She went on to direct, write, produce, and star in the action comedy film Charlie's Angels (2019). She also directed and produced the horror comedy film Cocaine Bear (2023). Banks founded the film and television production company Brownstone Productions in October 2002, with her husband Max Handelman. Banks made her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy (1998). She has appeared in the films Wet Hot American Summer (2001), Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007), The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Invincible (2006), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), Role Models (2008), The Next Three Days (2010), Man on a Ledge (2012), Movie 43 (2013), The Lego Movie (2014) and its 2019 sequel, Love & Mercy (2014), Walk of Shame (2014), Magic Mike XXL (2015), Power Rangers (2017), and The Beanie Bubble (2023).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 10, 1974 (52)
From
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also director and writer
Titles
90 on MovieCove · 117 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 29% in 30 days

What are Elizabeth Banks' films like?

Across their 67 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy25 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
27%
Self
25%
Morality
16%
Power
10%
Survival
9%
Society
9%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship13 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 60 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 34 · Serious 10 · Dark 16

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 32 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 11

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 16 · Charged 24 · Intense 20

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 28 · Shifting 27 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 23

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 32 · Relentless 7

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 36 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 6

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 31 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 17

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 44 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

27 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 9 of 27 analyzed roles.

Ally
9 of 27
Hero
6 of 27
Herald
3 of 27
Shapeshifter
2 of 27
Mentor
2 of 27
Shadow
2 of 27
Trickster
2 of 27
Threshold guardian
1 of 27
Show the 27 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
30
Joyful
20
Hopeful
22
Absurd
18
Warm
14
Other
81

How their films linger

Fun28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 12 with a twist

  • Happy28
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous15
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Elizabeth Banks' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 68 of their 90 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Elizabeth Banks' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

117 credits, 90 with a MovieCove page; 40 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • DreamQuil(2026)

    Producer · as Carol

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Mighty Mary(2026)

    Executive Producer · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass(2026)

    as Elizabeth Banks (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Miniature Wife(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer · as Lindy McMichael Littlejohn

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • The Better Sister(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer · as Nicky Macintosh

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Skincare(2024)

    Producer · as Hope Goldman

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Migration(2023)

    as Pam Mallard (voice)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Cat Person(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Mistake(2024)

    as Liz Taylor

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Bottoms(2023)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Beanie Bubble(2023)

    as Robbie

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Cocaine Bear: The True Story(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Cocaine Bear(2023)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Call Jane(2022)

    as Joy

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. America(2020)

    Show 9 episodes · as Jill Ruckelshaus

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Charlie's Angels(2019)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Boz

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Boys(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Banks (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Press Your Luck(2019)

    Show 72 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Brightburn(2019)

    as Tori Breyer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Shrill(2019)

    Show 22 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part(2019)

    as Wyldstyle / Lucy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Emmet's Holiday Party: A Lego Movie Short(2018)

    as Lucy / Wyldstyle (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Happytime Murders(2018)

    as Jenny

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Pitch Perfect 3(2017)

    Producer · as Gail

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special(2017)

    as Bird-Lady

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Yours Sincerely, Lois Weber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Executive Producer · as Self - Host

  • Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · as Lindsay

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Power Rangers(2017)

    as Rita Repulsa

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Most Hated Woman in America(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Asteroids! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Cheez

  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2(2015)

    as Effie Trinket

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Moonbeam City(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Pizzaz Miller (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · as Lindsay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Magic Mike XXL(2015)

    as Paris

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Love & Mercy(2014)

    as Melinda Ledbetter

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Pitch Perfect 2(2015)

    Director · Producer · as Gail Abernathy-McKadden

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Resident Advisors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer · as Doctor

  • Resident Advisors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 7 episodes · Executive Producer · as Doctor

  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1(2014)

    as Effie Trinket

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken: Christmas Specials (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Various (voice) (archive sound)

  • Walk of Shame(2014)

    as Meghan

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Every Secret Thing(2014)

    as Detective Nancy Porter

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Little Accidents(2014)

    as Diane Doyle

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Lego Movie(2014)

    as Wyldstyle / Lucy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Timms Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Beth Billings-Timms

  • Face in the Crowd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Face

  • The Hunger Games: Catching Fire(2013)

    as Effie Trinket

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Frame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Effie Trinket

  • Movie 43(2013)

    Director · as Amy (segment "Beezel")

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Details(2011)

    as Nealy Lang

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Pitch Perfect(2012)

    Producer · as Gail Abernathy-McKadden

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • People Like Us(2012)

    as Frankie Davis

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • What to Expect When You're Expecting(2012)

    as Wendy

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Hunger Games(2012)

    as Effie Trinket

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Man on a Ledge(2012)

    as Lydia Mercer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Just a Little Heart Attack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · as Woman

  • Our Idiot Brother(2011)

    as Miranda Rochlin

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Next Three Days(2010)

    as Lara Brennan

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story(2010)

    as Beth

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Lovely, Still(2008)

    as Alex

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Surrogates(2009)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 7 episodes · as Sal

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Uninvited(2009)

    as Rachael

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Big Breaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Starlet

  • Role Models(2008)

    as Beth

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • W.(2008)

    as Laura Bush

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • This Is Not Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Zack and Miri Make a Porno(2008)

    as Miri

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Meet Dave(2008)

    as Gina Morrison

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Definitely, Maybe(2008)

    as Emily

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Comanche Moon(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Fred Claus(2007)

    as Charlene

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Meet Bill(2007)

    as Jess

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man 3(2007)

    as Miss Brant

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 14 episodes · as Avery Jessup

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Invincible(2006)

    as Janet Cantrell

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Slither(2006)

    as Starla Grant

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Daltry Calhoun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as May

  • The Baxter(2005)

    as Caroline Swann

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The 40-Year-Old Virgin(2005)

    as Beth

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Heights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Isabel

  • The Sisters(2005)

    as Nancy Pecket

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Claus / Scarlett (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Becky Arangino (voice) · as Lisa Silver (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Sexual Life(2004)

    as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man 2(2004)

    as Miss Brant

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Seabiscuit(2003)

    as Marcela Howard

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Trade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Sioux Sever

  • Stella Shorts 1998-2002 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Yoga Student

  • Catch Me If You Can(2002)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Swept Away(2002)

    as Debi

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Clarissa

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Spider-Man(2002)

    as Miss Brant

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Ordinary Sinner(2001)

    as Rachel

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 16 episodes · as Dr. Kim Briggs

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Wet Hot American Summer(2001)

    as Lindsay

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Banks

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Shaft(2000)

    as Trey's Friend

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Uninvited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Lady Reporter

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Elaine Elchisak

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Jaina Jansen

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Pam Fishman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Sex and the City(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Catherine

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Surrender Dorothy(1998)

    as Vicki

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Persephone (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Bad Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Betas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Cocaine Bear 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Harness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • She's Fine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 2 episodes · Executive Producer · as Heidi

  • The Grace Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer

  • The Greater Good (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • The Magic School Bus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · as Ms. Frizzle

  • Throttled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Where the Fore Are We? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 116 titles, 105 of them dated from 1989 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

$865M worldwide

Highest rated

The Lego Movie (2014)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19892026

Peak 2013 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 32 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting98 of 116: 84 only acting, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thDirecting7 of 116: 1 only directing, 6 with another roleWriting1 of 116: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing29 of 116: 15 only producing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score35th

116 titles, 16 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s6 · acting2000s40 · 39 acting · 1 crew2010s43 · 39 acting · 12 crew2020s15 · 10 acting · 8 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 8% of 50 roles
0106111621

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

5 major nominations and no wins, 2004–2025.

  1. 2025
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Host for a Game Show
  2. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
  3. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
  4. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
  5. 2004
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Elizabeth Banks' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 67; across their 60 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Midcredits score across 90 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th26
  • 25th to 49th30
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

36 of their 90 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser36
  • Broadly Agreed14
  • Mixed23

Most divisive · actor, producer

DreamQuil (2026)

97th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 52 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Elizabeth Banks' work okay for kids?

Across up to 43 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore36 titles13–72 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity43 titles16–64 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity42 titles21–86 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs37 titles14–61 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense35 titles9–73 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Elizabeth Banks work with?

People who share at least 2 of Elizabeth Banks' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Max Handelman shares the most, 12.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles