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"It took Elizabeth Banks years to realize what the world already knew.&amp;#xA0;\r\n&amp;quot;I didn&amp;#x2019;t quite believe I was pretty for a long time,&amp;quot; the gorgeous actress, 40, admits in the latest issue of New You magazine. &amp;quot;I never thought about it.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\nThe now-self-aware woman went on to share her thoughts on sex and speak out against the shame that is often associated with the act. &amp;quot;It&amp;#x2019;s a huge disservice to young people to put shame into the equation,&amp;quot; the Pitch Perfect actress told New You. &amp;quot;That&amp;#x2019;s what bothers me the most about it and why I speak so openly about sex.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\n&amp;quot;I promote safe sex, always, and abstinence until you are madly in love,&amp;quot; she continued. &amp;quot;But at the same time I have no desire to shame any young person about what&amp;#x2019;s going on in their life or about general sexuality or their bodies.&amp;quot;&amp;#xA0;\r\n\r\nThe blonde star also commented on her own body and the lack of shame she now feels about it.&amp;#xA0;\r\n&amp;quot;I&amp;#x2019;m very genetically blessed, I cannot deny it, but I work hard at keeping myself together,&amp;quot; Banks said. &amp;quot;Yes, I have nice cheekbones and skinny legs but I can&amp;apos;t take any credit for it.&amp;quot;&amp;#xA0;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/elizabeth-banks-didnt-believe-she-was-pretty-i-never-thought-it-2014287>