Mockingjay: Part I is full steam ahead. After the world premiere in London, the cast split up. Jennifer Lawrence hopped on a plane to NYC where press duties await. Some of the supporting cast members shuffled off to other premieres in Europe. Sam Claflin held up the fort in Madrid, and Elizabeth Banks handled the Berlin screening all by her lonesome.

Liz looked absolutely stunning in this Saint Laurent gown, which is very different from her lush London look. This red dress is both simple and striking, and the fabric drapes perfectly. (Here’s a secret: I’m a sucker for drapey cowl necks.) Liz accessorized with Giuseppe Zanotti sandals and Jennifer Fisher jewelry. Bold scarlet lips and a sweeping updo completed the portrait of perfection. There is not one single flaw to this entire ensemble. Liz can wear almost anything, but she struck a high note here.

Elizabeth did some low-key interviews (in comparison to the JLaw madness that prevails) to promote. She told MTV that she “cried her eyes out” when filming wrapped. Elizabeth’s Effie is so beloved to fans that Lionsgate wrote her into this movie (instead of simply giving her a brief mention at the end like the novel did). Elizabeth talked to E! about this change:

Effie’s expanded role: “Effie really is a fish out of water in District 13 and they do not have anywhere near the resources that the Capitol does. So Effie really finds herself having to what I like to call ‘Project Runway her way’ through the wardrobe that’s given to everyone. Everyone gets sort of standard wardrobe in District 13 and she of course has to put her own twist on everything…she can make anything fabulous. Well she [Effie] doesn’t make an appearance in District 13 in the actual book, but Suzanne Collins and Francis [Lawrence] and I … everyone sort of came to me and said ‘We really feel like Effie … it would be really fun to keep her involved in the story’ and of course I’m thrilled to be a part of it and get to go to 13 and take care of Katniss a little bit longer.”

This movie is different: “The scope and scale is huge. It’s really a true action film now, we’re not just in the Games anymore, we’ve really upped the stakes of the movie. It’s really about a full scale rebellion and a war between the Capitol and the Districts. So all the action sequences are just amazing and upgraded … action-movie level stuff going on, not just the story of a small-town girl.”

A brief word on body image: “I think that beauty comes in all shapes and forms and sizes and all different packages. And I think it’s all about celebrating value and your own self worth and promoting confidence. I think that’s the most important thing we can give to young people is confidence in who they are.”

[From E! Online]

Effie without her flamboyant ensembles will be a sad sight to see, but the good news is that we don’t have to say goodbye to this character. She’s the heart and soul of the whole franchise, and I can’t wait to see this new movie.

Here’s Sam Claflin saying hello from the Madrid premiere. He’s adorable.

Photos courtesy of WENN