Amanda Bynes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amanda Bynes
Bynes in 2009
Born	Amanda Laura Bynes (1986-04-03) April 3, 1986 (age 39) Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1993–2010, 2018–present

Amanda Laura Bynes (born April 3, 1986) is an American actress who became famous as a child star. She is best known for her funny roles on the Nickelodeon TV shows All That (1996–2000) and The Amanda Show (1999–2002). For these shows, she won several Kids' Choice Awards.

As a teenager, Bynes starred in the TV show What I Like About You (2002–2006). She also appeared in popular teen movies like Big Fat Liar (2002) and What a Girl Wants (2003).

Later, she became a major movie star. She played Viola Hastings in the comedy She's the Man (2006) and Penny Pingleton in the musical Hairspray (2007). Hairspray was a huge success and won her a Critics' Choice Award. After starring in the comedy Easy A (2010), she took a long break from acting.

In her personal life, Bynes has faced health challenges that were reported in the media. From 2013 to 2022, she was in a conservatorship, a legal arrangement where her parents helped manage her affairs.

Early Life and Education

Amanda Bynes was born on April 3, 1986, in Thousand Oaks, California. She is the youngest of three children. Her mother, Lynn, was a dental assistant, and her father, Rick, was a dentist. Her father's family has Irish, Lithuanian, and Polish roots, and her mother's family is Jewish, with roots in Poland, Russia, and Romania.

Bynes has always been interested in drawing and fashion design. In 2013, she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). She earned a degree in merchandise product development in 2018 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2019.

Acting Career

1993–2005: A Nickelodeon Star

Bynes started acting professionally at age seven. She appeared in TV commercials for products like Buncha Crunch candies and Barbie. She also performed in stage musicals like Annie and The Sound of Music.

A producer from Nickelodeon saw her perform at a comedy camp and cast her in the sketch comedy show All That. She was on the show from season three to season six and became very popular, winning a Kids' Choice Award in 2000.

At age 13, Bynes got her own show, The Amanda Show, which was a spin-off of All That. The show was a huge hit and made her a big star. She won four more Kids' Choice Awards for her work on the show.

In 2002, she made her first movie, Big Fat Liar, with Frankie Muniz. The movie was a box office success. That same year, she began starring in the TV series What I Like About You, which ran until 2006.

In 2003, Bynes was on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. She also did voice acting, playing Nellie the spider in Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure and Piper Pinwheeler in the animated movie Robots (2005).

2006–2010: Movie Success and Acting Break

In 2006, Teen People magazine named Bynes one of the "25 Hottest Stars Under 25". That year, she starred in the romantic comedy She's the Man. In the movie, she plays a girl who pretends to be her brother to join the boys' soccer team. People loved her performance in the film.

Her next big role was in the 2007 musical movie Hairspray. She played Penny Pingleton, the best friend of the main character. The movie was a huge success and became her highest-grossing film. The cast won a Critics' Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble. Bynes also sang on the movie's soundtrack, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

In 2007, she also launched her own fashion line called "Dear" with the store Steve & Barry's. The line included clothing and accessories.

Her last major film role before her break was in the 2010 comedy Easy A, where she starred with Emma Stone. The movie was a success, and both actresses were praised for their roles. Later in 2010, Bynes announced she was taking a break from acting to focus on her personal life.

Personal Life

In 2007, Bynes said she was raised with both Jewish and Catholic beliefs. She described herself as a spiritual person.

Health and Wellness

Starting around 2012, Bynes began to face some public personal and health challenges. In 2013, she was hospitalized to receive care for her mental health. During this time, her parents stepped in to help her.

In 2014, Bynes announced that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a health condition that can affect a person's mood and energy levels.

In 2018, Bynes shared that she had been doing well for four years with her parents' support. She apologized for things she had said on social media in the past. "I'm really ashamed and embarrassed with the things I said," she explained. "I can't turn back time but if I could, I would."

In March 2023, Bynes was placed on a psychiatric hold after she asked a stranger for help during a difficult time. She received care at a hospital and later continued with outpatient treatment.

Conservatorship

After her hospitalization in 2013, Bynes's parents asked a court to help them manage her life and finances. This legal arrangement is called a conservatorship. Her mother was granted a temporary conservatorship to help take care of her.

In February 2022, Bynes asked the court to end the conservatorship. Her lawyer said that she was doing much better and no longer needed the court's protection. Her parents supported her decision. A judge officially ended the conservatorship on March 22, 2022.

Filmography

Film

Television

Images for kids

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  Bynes in 2005, at the premiere of Robots.