Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Catapulting to fame at an early age, Amanda Bynes had become a successful child actor with an envious career. It was particularly her comedic chops and infectious personality that turned her into a beloved actress and one of Nickelodeon’s top talent, by the age of 13. Prior to achieving her big break, Bynes had already starredalongside icons like Nick Cannon.
Following her work on the children’s network, Amanda Bynes navigated towards mainstream Hollywood and quickly became a comedy teen queen. Appearing in rom-coms and winning awards for her roles, Bynes had developed a career that was filled with envious opportunities. But then came her health setbacks and legal troubles that led her to quit acting. Once in full glory, Bynes has now become a mystery to be unraveled.
Amanda Bynes’ Rise as a Nickelodeon Star
California-bornAmanda Bynesinitially started her career at the age of 7 when she was offered a role in the Nickelodeon variety sketch showAll That(1996 to 2000). Working harder than the rest, as a child actor, Bynes became a stand-out star that helped her earn Nickelodeon’s favor for her own spinoff sketch show,The Amanda Show.
Amanda Bynes’ standalone series ran from 1999 to 2002 which alsoincluded Drake Belland Josh Peck. Meanwhile, she had also appeared in a 1998 episode ofBlue’s Cluesand had acquired a recurring role as Taffy onRugrats(2003 to 2004). During her Nickelodeon run, Bynes was nominated for and won multiple Kids’ Choice Awards.
Amanda Bynes’ Top Movies and TV Shows
After winning hearts with her role in children’s shows, Amanda Bynes transitioned to the big screen, making her feature film debut in the 2002 comedyBig Fat Liar,at just 15 years of age. The actress had achieved immense glory within her teenage years, which even experienced stars struggle to earn through decades.
Channing Tatum’s ‘She’s the Man’ Co-star Amanda Bynes Has Fans Worried About Her Mental Health Over New Look and Drastic Career Change
Soon, she transitioned into a more adult TV role with her appearance as Holly Tyler in The WB’sWhat I Like About You. Amanda Bynes continued her reign of popular romantic comedies, starring in 2003’sWhat A Girl Wants,and even went on to appear alongside Channing Tatum inShe’s the Man(2006).
Bynes’ popularity skyrocketed in the realm of rom-coms and the actress went on to share the screen withEmma StoneinEasy A(2010). But despite garnering fame and glory, Amanda Bynes has been struggling with her personal life. According to Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider (viaToday), Bynes hadreportedly run away from homeand tried to be emancipated from her parents when she was around 16 or 17.
Amanda Bynes’ Dive into the Pit of Addiction
Unfortunately, despite turning to her team (her agent, manager, publicist, including Dan Schneider), and hiring a lawyer, Amanda Bynes’desire to get emancipatedwas not approved by a judge. This eventually took a toll on her career and mental health, as the actress dropped out of her 2011 comedyHall Pass, and subsequently quit acting.
“They’re squirting stuff on her face to make it look a certain way”: Before Amanda Bynes Fiasco, Dan Schneider Was Accused of Doing Horrible Things to Another 13 Year Old Child Star
Reflecting on her years following her Hollywood exit, Amanda Bynes toldPapermagazine, how she started smoking marijuana when she was 16 and gradually progressed to doing molly and ecstasy. Adding to the list of drugs that she tried, Bynes noted using cocaine and Adderall tablets.
[Tried] cocaine three times but I never got high from cocaine. I never liked it. It was never my drug of choice… abused Adderall [that left her] scatterbrained.
Recalling theeffects of those drugs on her life, Amanda Bynes noted using Adderall tablets, around the time ofHall Pass. And since the drug left her “scatterbrained” and she failed to focus on her lines or memorize them, Bynes implied quitting the film. Soon, the drugs got the better of her, and she began feeling self-conscious about her appearance.
The actress recalled seeing herself on screen and “literally tripping out and thinking my arm looked so fat.” it gradually progressed and Amanda Bynes kept thinking, “Oh, my God, I look so bad.” Her discomfort in seeing herself on screen led her to quit her career as she was convinced she “should never be on camera again”.
Where is Amanda Bynes Now?
Following her substance abuse issues and legal troubles (misdemeanor DUI charge after hitting a cop car, allegedly throwing a bong out of her window, reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of marijuana), Amanda Bynes was placed in a conservatorship under her parents, Lynn and Rick Bynes, in 2013.
Amanda Bynes Revealed the Part of Her Face That is Plastic Surgery
Eventually, after almost a decade of recklessness and addiction, Bynes turned her life around and with the help of her parents, ended her conservatorship in February 2022. Although she continued suffering from “ongoing mental health issues” which sparked rumors of ongoing drug or alcohol addiction issues, the actress has now managed to keep a low profile.
In recent times, although Amanda Bynes has updated her followers with social media posts, the actress is known to delete them after sharing. In 2023, Bynes shared in an Instagram video updating her fans about working on a podcast alongside co-host Paul Sieminski. However, the duo had only produced one episode before taking a pause.
After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles with an associate degree in merchandise product development, Bynes told her followers via an Instagram story on July 24, 2025 (viaToday), that she is “back at school”. According to the actress, she’s currently studying manicurist theory and practicing nail acrylics to get a job at a nail salon.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3218
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
