Elizabeth Banks Shares Her Connection to Charli xcx, Who She's Been a 'Huge Fan of Forever' (Exclusive)

Elizabeth Banks is loving the “Brat summer” trend!

Speaking to PEOPLE ahead of the release of her latest film Skincare, the actor shed some light on her relationship with breakout pop star Charli xcx, whose deep cut “Nuclear Seasons” was included on the film’s soundtrack.

This wasn’t the first time they had worked together — the pair collaborated for the 2023 raunchy comedy Bottoms, for which Banks served as a producer and Charli created the music.

“Charli xcx did a bunch of songs for my movie Bottoms,” Banks, 50, tells PEOPLE. “I’m a huge fan — have been forever.”

Following the release of her sixth studio album Brat in June, the English singer has been everywhere this summer.

“Brat green” — the neon green shade Charli used in the art for the album cover — has cropped up in everything from fashion to food. A-listers from Jennifer Lopez to Glen Powell have participated in a viral dance craze to the Brat track “Apple.” She’s even entered the political arena, seemingly endorsing Kamala Harris’ bid for president, posting on X, “kamala IS brat” (and prompting Harris' official campaign account to change its banner on X to match the aesthetics of the album).

Banks, too, is here for Charli’s breakout success.

“I’m so excited for Brat summer,” she tells PEOPLE. “It’s the best.”

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In Skincare, Banks plays high-strung celebrity facialist Hope Goldman, who’s attempting to launch her own line of skincare products but must contend with a rival operation opening across the street from her business. After Hope’s emails are hacked and messages are sent to her clients from her account by someone pretending to be her, the desperate aesthetician turns to increasingly dramatic means to maintain her success.

Though Banks didn’t know it until midway through production for the film, Skincare is actually inspired by the scandalous true story of the allegations against celebrity facialist Dawn DaLuise over a murder-for-hire plot.

“I love that it was sort of ripped from the headlines, but I fell in love with Hope for so many reasons before I knew that it was based on anything,” Banks tells PEOPLE. “To be clear, it’s all very inspired by that, but it clearly goes way more off the rails.”

Banks continues: “This is really about a woman where progress is sort of steamrolling over her and this pressure is building on her to stay relevant in a world she doesn’t understand.”

Skincare is out in theaters on Aug. 16.