SubscribeElizabeth Banks on playing Laura Bush in 'W': It's all about the hair!
The Dish Rag recently caught up with Elizabeth Banks, who plays first lady Laura Bush in Oliver Stone's controversial new George W. Bush film, "W."
DR: What's the secret to playing a believable Republican first lady?
EB: "It's all about the hair. Hair speaks volumes about every politician's wife. And I think you'll be impressed with my version of Laura Bush's very Republican hair. I did meet Laura once, in 2003, long before I knew I'd be playing her."
DR: What do you think about the film's portrayal of the Bush family?
EB: "The film really presents both sides. People who like George Bush will find many things in the movie to like and people who don't like George Bush will have their opinion validated as well. It's a fairly fair portrayal."
Photos: Elizabeth Banks, left, actually looks a bit like Laura Bush, right (no pun intended). But it's gonna be all about the hair! And maybe some of that yummy Republican red lipstick.
WireImage
The ONLY way to portray Laura Bush is with green make-up for her face and a black wig ala the wicked witch from " The Wizard Of Oz"!Nuff said?
Posted by: bigironal | July 11, 2008 at 08:04 AM
A "fairly fair portrayal"??? Geez, she's an even dumber blonde than I thought she was.
Posted by: MDKSun | July 11, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Is Laura Bush consider that vapid that her defining characteristic is her hair?
Posted by: AxelDC | July 11, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Oliver Stone making a fair and balanced movie. What a hoot!
The guy is so biased he is not sure what day it is
Posted by: WTF | July 11, 2008 at 10:29 AM
laura looks just like 'the joker' from the batman tv series
Posted by: harvest | July 11, 2008 at 11:02 AM
The look on Laura's face always startles me. Perhaps it's the puppy-uppers needed to compensate for the anti-depressants. In any case, what is "Republican Hair" exactly?
Posted by: Cathy in Seattle | July 11, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Darn, that pic of Laura Bush is downright SCARY! Is that real or intended as satire? Looks like: 'Hi darlings, come on in my living room and watch the latest torture techniques, and... I've got some great brownies!!!"'
Posted by: Silvio | July 11, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Elizabeth Banks appeared on "Scrubs" for a while, and she has the whole package. Hope to see her back on network TV soon.
Posted by: TJN | July 11, 2008 at 01:21 PM
The Joker (from Batman) really hits the mark. That's why she looks so familiar and creepy. Maybe she's the daughter of Caesar Romero!
Posted by: John | July 11, 2008 at 01:33 PM
re: dumb blonde. She actually graduated cum laude from an ivy league university (University of Pennsylvania) before she headed out to Hollywood. Not too many "stars" with those kind of smarts...
Posted by: sez | July 11, 2008 at 03:27 PM
re: U of Penn - re: dumb blonde: and after that she got her MFA from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She's a smart lady and good actor.
Posted by: fellow alum | July 11, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Who cares about her hair? She killed her former boyfriend. She's a loser who should never had been First Lady.
Posted by: Alexa | July 11, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Definitely the Joker...that is one scary picture. She really brings something to the role.
Posted by: yeahright | July 12, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Many actors find their characterizations after putting on the clothing, makeup or in this case, hair of the character they are going to play. Many GOP women wear that tightly controlled hair, which reflects their inner character. Get it now?
Posted by: Anais | July 12, 2008 at 04:50 AM
Whoever makes this film, the actress is going to have to get that valium stare downpat...if she does, she'll nail Laura.
Posted by: Karen | July 12, 2008 at 08:33 AM