Lauren E. Banks, the "E" standing for Elizabeth (a multi-generational family name), was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She spent the early years of her life playing basketball and aspiring to become an Olympic track athlete, until her talent and passion for storytelling guided her towards a career in acting. To date, she has traveled and performed all along the East Coast of the US, and abroad in Nairobi, Kenya; Sydney, Australia; and Singapadu, Bali. In 2009, Lauren attended Howard University, where she trained under the late, Al Freeman, Jr., and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.F.A in Theatre Arts Acting. Lauren received her Masters in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama, as a member of the class of 2017.