- Bynes’ sketch comedy show was
described as “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 1975– ) for the
tween set, while the actress was being compared to one
of her idols – comedy legend Lucille Ball – because of
her unforgettably funny characters like Judge Trudy and
dorky Penelope Taynt. But it was her work stealing
scenes from her veteran costar Jennie Garth, on the
successful WB sitcom, “What I Like About You” (WB,
2002-06) that put Bynes on the mainstream non-tween
radar. By 2007, Bynes was starring in the big screen
adaptation of “Hairspray,” launching her own fashion
line “Dear by Amanda Bynes,” and appearing in a “Got
Milk” print ad – all sure signs that the All-American
girl has finally become a superstar – and one that
parents could approve of too.
Amanda Laura Bynes was born on April 3, 1986, the
picture perfect girl-next-door. She grew up in Thousand
Oaks, CA, with her father, Rick – a dentist – and
mother, Lynn – an office manager, older brother Tommy,
and older sister Jillian. Bynes was the family superstar
from the get-go, putting on her mother’s clothes and
acting for them at the young age of three. She enjoyed
musical theater growing up, knowing all the words to
“Oliver!” (1968) and “Evita” (1996) when she was just
five. Her parents took notice of the youngster’s
potential; even driving her an hour from their hometown
to a summer comedy camp in Los Angeles every Saturday.
- The support of her parents and her hard work soon
brought the star-in-training to the famous Laugh Factory
in Hollywood. Bynes performed a comedy routine when she
was only 10, impressing a group of people who worked for
Nickelodeon. They asked her to audition for “All That”
(Nickelodeon, 1994-2005), a sketch comedy show for the
middle school set. Bynes was a natural fit for the
series, with her charm and physical comedy skills. She
was a regular “All That” cast member for four years,
winning over fans and a handful of Nickelodeon Kid’s
Choice Awards in the process.
- Being part of the ensemble cast of “All That”
showcased Bynes comedic talents, but the network saw a
lot more potential for the young star. Bynes was the
driving force of the show, so she was offered her own
comedy series for Nickelodeon. And so “The Amanda Show”
was born, becoming the channel’s highest-rated
live-action program at that point in time. Bynes was a
hilarious, likeable, and versatile actress for three
successful seasons. The actress even found comfort
playing her characters, citing that she was more nervous
doing her monologues at the start of every show because
she was acting as herself. Bynes had nothing to worry
about, however, since her fans adored her and supported
her every career move. Naturally, such talent and
charisma could only lead to the next step in stardom for
the young actress – the big screen.
- Bynes set her sights on a film career while still
maintaining TV credibility. In 2002, the California
native costarred with Frankie Muniz – another well-known
TV actor – in “Big Fat Liar,” playing Kaylee, the
free-spirited and slightly tomboyish best friend to
Muniz’ Jason. The role was originally written for a boy,
yet Bynes nailed the part with ease. That very same
year, Bynes was cast in a TV comedy series about sisters
living in New York titled “What I Like About You.” She
played Holly, a teen who lived with her older sister,
played by “Beverly Hills, 90210” (FOX, 1990-2000) alum
Jennie Garth. The relationship on the show hit close to
home for the actress, as she considered her older sister
Jillian her best friend in real life. “What I Like About
You” lasted four years, and turned Bynes into a
household name and bankable teen star, joining a young
Hollywood group that at the time included Hilary Duff,
Lindsay Lohan and Mandy Moore. Unlike some of her peers,
however, Bynes was not about to lose sight of her goals
at the bottom of cocktail glass.
- While other young stars like Lohan and Paris Hilton
partied until early morning and became notorious tabloid
headliners, Bynes maintained a low-key profile. She was
never photographed leaving clubs nor getting in feuds
with her fellow teen actresses. Instead, she focused on
work and perfecting her acting chops. She got another
starring role in the film “What A Girl Wants” (2003),
pushing the actress way ahead of the young Hollywood
pack. It was a coming-of-age movie with romantic comedy
elements, so Bynes was able to showcase both her
versatile acting range, but also the fact that she was
growing into a lovely young lady. With mature
forethought, she planned to affect a Sandra Bullock and
Meg Ryan film route – actresses who could not only act
but were not afraid to do physical comedy either. At a
time when animated movies were also box-office dynamite,
Bynes voiced for Piper in 2005’s “Robots.” The cast was
a Who’s-Who of comedy, including Robin Williams, Mel
Brooks, and Drew Carey. Being a former teen sketch
comedy star, Bynes was finally acting among her biggest
influences, a feat that made her work even harder
through the years.
- Never much of an athlete as a kid, Bynes had always
preferred musical theater and acting over sports. When
her next movie “She’s The Man” (2006), called for the
actress to learn how to play soccer – as a man – she did
so with flying colors. The film – a remake of “Just One
of the Guys” (1985) – featured Bynes as a girl who
dresses up as a boy to get on the boys’ soccer team, all
in an effort to show up the ex-boyfriend who dumped her.
Bynes was a genius, keeping the audience laughing at her
character Viola’s attempts at lowering her voice and
flirting with women onscreen. Romance was in the air
off-screen as well, as Bynes and her co-star, actor
Channing Tatum, became a romantic item. The young
lovebirds dated for a few years, but their relationship
cooled off almost as soon as it had begun. She
previously dated another co-star, “What I Like About
You” hunk Nick Zano, but that also lasted only briefly.
- Compared to other actresses of her generation, the
focus on Bynes was less about her personal life and more
on her work. Her biggest project to date came in the
form of 2007’s “Hairspray,” a Technicolor and musical
romp through the sixties, based on John Waters’ 1988
cult film and the hit Broadway production. The
“Hairspray” cast consisted of Hollywood heavyweights
like John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah.
The talented roster also included newer faces like Nikki
Blonsky and Disney Channel heartthrob Zac Efron.
Somewhere in the middle was Bynes, a film veteran at
such a young age. She channeled the role of Tracy’s
sidekick Penny Pingleton and made it her own all the way
to her funny signature line “I am now a checkerboard
chick!” during the movie’s big finale. Starring in the
blockbuster musical brought Bynes full circle, having
started in musical theater and humming show tunes
growing up. Following “Hairspray’s” massive success was
another fairy tale remake for the hardworking star –
playing the lead in “Sydney White” (2007) a hip
adaptation of the classic Snow White story.
- Talented and mature well beyond her years, Bynes set
out for an entirely new and different direction with her
career. She launched a fashion line called “Dear By
Amanda Bynes” in August 2007, with fun and trendy pieces
her teen fans loved to wear. The line was sold
exclusively at department store Steve and Barry’s
nationwide.
Personal Quotes
"The first time I got the script, it said "The Amanda
Show" (1999) on it. I thought they were kidding. I'm
still little Amanda, and to be getting my own show, it's
like, oh, my gosh!" - at age 13
It was my first season of "All That" (1994). Kenan
Thompson and I were playing ping- pong in this scene,
and we were supposed to collide heads. As we were
falling down, I hit myself in the lip with the paddle. I
looked down and saw a puddle of blood, and I had to be
rushed to the studio hospital with a swollen lip. My
friend was like, 'Don't worry, Amanda. It doesn't look
too bad you know, thousands of women pay [for collagen
injections] to have their lips that big.
I'm the type of person who believes that everything
happens for a reason, and at the time that it's supposed
to. So now...other ideas are coming up for other movies
and everything is just happening really wonderfully.
People don't recognize I'm getting older. They see
reruns of "All That" (1994) so they assume I'm ten years
old. I'm 16. I'm almost 5' 8". I'm driving now.
I'm a positive person. People should find happiness in
the little things, like family.
I think my parents are a big part of that because I'm
still a normal kid. Like there are times I get
frustrated because I want to wear certain shoes and they
don't want me to wear them. It's all good in the end
because I realize that there will be a time and place
for high shoes.
I want to be looked at as an adult actress. That's why I
didn't want to do a big movie when I was 11. I was
waiting till I was a little bit older.
Whatever is meant to be will be and you just have to
trust that things happen for a reason. It's made
handling disappointments that much easier because I just
remember my mom's words and know that something better
is meant to come my way.
I'm a good person, and I don't want to undermine anyone.
I don't want to make anyone look stupid. I don't talk
badly about people. I just try to be a nice girl and
that's the best way to stay out of it. Some people have
such big egos that they have to knock people down to get
ahead. And I'm just who I am, and I'm a person who's
very lucky. But my life is my family and not my job. If
it ever got too crazy I'd be like, 'Okay, I'm checkin'
out now.'
I want to be known for the work I've done, as opposed to
where I go on Saturday nights...I like to let loose just
like anyone else, but I don't want to be photographed
doing it.
I love movies that have a good story. I love movies that
make you feel good about yourself but I also love movies
that make you walk away thinking about them. I like
things that have, you know, something to them.
Every person is so different and I don't think there is
an exact match for every person. If you meet someone and
they have 20 of the 25 things you want in a person, then
you're pretty lucky.
Going to another country you're not in your house,
you're with people you've never met before, and I think
it's definitely a good growing experience.
I don't like being compared to anyone or being in a
class with someone. I'm a teen actress and therefore I'm
competing against Hilary Duff. We're different people
like everyone else.
I get a script and it's really interesting with scripts,
because you never really know. It's paper and it could
be great or awful. Even scripts that are good could end
up not working.
I like the dress-up part. In real life, I'm into sweats
and never like that, but I do like to get dressed
up--like most girls.
People have a preconceived notion about who I am and
it's interesting. It's like picking who you want to win
for the Oscars and not seeing the movie.
We try to magnify the difference between Americans and
the English. In real life they like the same music and
dress the same. It's really much more similar than
anyone thinks or how we show it.
I'm really excited about my life. You only get one and I
want to enjoy it.
I'm so protected in my Nickelodeon bubble and "What I
Like About You." It's all pretty much the same people
I've worked with and it was pretty protected.
I loved Clueless (1995). That was one of my favorite
movies of all time.
I'm so against it. People should strive to be happy with
who they are and not be obsessed with how they look.
Beauty is nothing
I enjoy doing things that are scary or things that some
girls might not like because it won't let them look
gorgeous. Like, in my new movie I play a boy, and every
day they'd pin my hair back and I'd have no makeup.
That's when you start relying more on your sense of
humor.
I think every girl wants someone who is smart and funny,
and I do too. But I want someone who is interesting. I
mean, I want to be attracted to him, but beauty fades.
There are many guys and girls who grew up being
beautiful and never had to be smart or look hard for
anything.
I think women look better and better as they get older,
but there is some pressure on them to look a certain
way. I personally think we should grow old gracefully.
Like, my mum has great hair and it's beautiful. It looks
natural.
(On college) "I knew that I wanted to be a performer of
some sort, like an actress or a comedian, when I was
really young, so I worked for that."
My whole family loves comedies. We're always laughing. I
think I grew up sort of admiring comedians and I grew up
watching the greats. And so my dad was really supportive
of me doing this. And my mom was supportive, too. It
just helped having a funny family.
I am doing the best I can and I don't want to ever be
compared to somebody that great because then when
someone sees me they'll say, 'No, she's not that good.'
But I'm working hard and I hope that I can eventually
live up to that title
(On her parents, Richard and Lynn) "I love them because
they accept me for who I am and they love me with all my
faults. I am so grateful for them. I want to be with
them forever. This is a good time to tell you! I'm never
leaving!"
I think I'll go out as much as I've ever gone
out...which is not a lot. I like to dance and stuff, but
drinking isn't good for you in every way. It's not good
for your skin; it makes you feel horrible. So,
drinking-wise, no.
When I was 15, I got a haircut from a famous hairstylist
in L.A. She gave me a short shag. I'm a Jewish girl with
curly hair. When it dried naturally, it was atrocious.
I don't feel like I belong to that world. The truth is,
I'm happy in my little life. (On the Hollywood scene.)
There is nothing less attractive than a guy who is a
jerk and has an ego. Filmography
Easy A (2010)
Canned (2009) (TV)
Living Proof (2008) (TV)
Sydney White (2007)
Hairspray (2007)
She's the Man (2006)
Love Wrecked (2005)
What a Girl Wants (2003)
Big Fat Liar (2002)
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