Born in LaPlata, Maryland. The only child of Ray and Gypsy Banks. Her family hails from Bluefield, West Virginia. Even though she was born and raised in Maryland, she might say she's from West Virginia. Because Bluefield, named after a big blue field of chicory weeds, feels more like home. When she was nine she announced that she was going to be an actress. Instead of applause, she got a laugh. She's been at it ever since. She graduated from LaPlata High and finished her first indie film "Edge" in 1996. In 2001, she received a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Maryland. Since graduation, she's been performing in and around DC. She became a member of the Actors' Equity Association in 2004. After working under her full name for a few years she decided drop her infamous real name, as another actress had already claimed it. So in 2006, she fashioned a new first name of her nickname and middle initial: Briel Banks.