Elizabeth Banks stumbles as she takes to the stage at the Oscars

Elizabeth Banks stunned Academy Awards viewers last night, stumbling as she stepped out on stage to present an award.

US actress/director Elizabeth Banks. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

Elizabeth Banks stunned Academy Awards viewers last night, stumbling as she stepped out on stage to present an award.

The Cocaine Bear director was not nominated for an Oscar this year but did present alongside a shocking special guest: the drug-addicted beast from her film.

Elizabeth, 49, was chosen to present the award for best visual effects alongside a person in a bear suit.

Elizabeth Banks trips on stage at the Oscars. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

Still standing: The actress and director kept her composure (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

She tripped on the long train of her Vivienne Westwood gown as she made her way to the microphone and only just managed to stay on her feet.

Her voice was hoarse, which she continually apologised for, and she appeared to be not feeling her best.

The Call Jane star seemed less than enthused but did maintain her composure, even after she nearly fell to the ground multiple times.

She listed the nominees before announcing Avatar: The Way of Water as the winner.

Fans flocked to Twitter to weigh in on her appearance.

She was later joined on stage by Cocaine Bear (Photo by KEVIN WINTER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

“Elizabeth Banks’ cracked voice is me after a night out w my girls,” one wrote.

Another joked: “Elizabeth Banks nearly had a Jennifer Lawrence moment.”

Jennifer famously tripped while making her way to the stage to accept the Best Actress award in 2013.

Another suggested: “Someone please rescue Elizabeth Banks from whoever made her do this. Painful.”

A fourth fan wrote: “Somebody give Elizabeth Banks a f***ing glass of water!”

Someone else joked: “Elizabeth Banks almost pulling a Jennifer Lawrence while the Cocaine Bear hunts her down on the #Oscars stage didn’t work for me!”

Another wrote: “Elizabeth Banks almost bit the dust!”

This story was originally published by The Sun and was reproduced with permission