Elizabeth Banks turned a late-night parenting anecdote into one of her most memorable TV moments this week. During her “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” appearance, the actress and producer described how she handled an early sex talk with her sons. Instead of dodging the question, she said she used animals, whales, and even a screensaver to explain the basics in a way they could follow.
The actress gave the story while promoting “The Miniature Wife,” her new Peacock series with Matthew Macfadyen. Banks shares two sons, Felix and Magnus, with husband Max Handelman, and that family context shaped the conversation.
Elizabeth Banks used Whale screensaver to explain sex to her kids
Elizabeth Banks said she and her husband handled those conversations in stages. On “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” she explained that children first asked simpler questions about babies and where they came from. So, she said parents could begin with animals because “mammals all do it the same.” Then came the direct question from the backseat. Banks recalled her son asking, “But mom, how does the penis get in the vagina?” and said she realized, “It’s happening right now.”
From there, Banks said the family’s Cape Cod vacation unexpectedly gave her a visual aid. They had been talking about going on a whale watch. She told Kimmel she started explaining “whale penises,” also adding, “those were like the biggest ones, I think”. Kimmel added cheekily, “That’s what I hear,” and the audience laughed. Banks continued the story, referring to a whale screensaver on the television. She said, “That’s the whales, they’re doing it.” She even joked that she physically demonstrated the motion once, while both boys listened.
Later, the actress kept the tone light, but the larger point stayed clear. She said uncomfortable topics had to be introduced gradually, not avoided. Meanwhile, Kimmel turned the moment into a running joke about buying tampons and passing on “basic human knowledge.” Still, the parenting story landed because it felt practical. It also arrived as Banks promoted “The Miniature Wife,” which Peacock said was set to premiere on April 9. So, between family talk and work talk, the “Pitch Perfect” alum ended up giving viewers both a parenting hack and a sharp late-night story.
Originally reported by Santanu Das on Reality Tea
