Elizabeth Banks has become more 'patient', but why?

Elizabeth Banks' directing experience has made her a more "patient" actress.

The 52-year-old star made her directorial debut in 2015, when she helmed Pitch Perfect 2, the musical comedy film written by Kay Cannon, and Elizabeth admits that it's had a huge impact on how she approaches acting.

The Hollywood star - who has appeared in the Pitch Perfect and Hunger Games film franchises - told Variety: "I do think it makes you a more patient actor, because you sort of understand everything.

"I really enjoy days when I don’t have to answer a lot of questions and I just get to take care of the character I’m there to play that day. I don’t have to worry about the choreography and the camera angles.

"But I love being surprised by something. I love collaborating. I love problem-solving. I hope I get to do more of it. I think I will.

Elizabeth explained that the Hunger Games franchise marked a turning point in her career.

She said: "I’m constantly developing things, but I’m at [an important] moment as a mom. What’s interesting is that The Hunger Games is what allowed me to direct in the first place. Having the comfort of, 'OK, I know I’m going to be in a few movies over a few years.'"

Elizabeth is relieved that she's no longer facing serious financial pressures in her life.

The actress-turned-director also explained how motherhood has changed her outlook.

Elizabeth - who has Felix, 15, and Magnus, 13 - said: "I had my babies during it and I directed Pitch Perfect 2 during it. I could just breathe a little bit. I wasn’t worried about what’s the next job and when am I going to work again and how am I going to pay the bills? That’s handled. They say babies also give you a lot of clarity in life."

Elizabeth helmed the 2019 Charlie's Angels movie that starred Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska.

But the director made a conscious decision not to make the film overly sexualised.

She told Collider: "We don't really - we play with that trope and then we dismiss it pretty early on in the movie. The women in this film use their brains and their wits.

"We had a mantra which was we are going to fight smarter, not harder. That was how we approached most of the action sequences in the movie.

"The women in the film, for instance, I had another mantra on set which was everybody gets to wear what they feel awesome and comfortable wearing and what they want to strut around in in this movie. Whatever makes her feel best coming to set. That was the attitude we had about how we shot the film."