Biography
Amanda Laura Bynes was born on April 3, 1986, in Thousand Oaks, California. One could perhaps attribute her flair for comedy to her father, Rick, a dentist and comedy enthusiast who encouraged Amanda and her siblings to perform.
As a young thespian, Bynes starred in community productions of plays like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Music Man and The Secret Garden, and became initiated into the art of getting laughs during classes at comedy "camps" like The Comedy Store and the Laugh Factory, both in Los Angeles. At the age of 10, she performed at a Laugh Factory kids' comedy showcase and was immediately approached by an executive from the Nickelodeon television network, and the laughs haven't stopped since.
amanda bynes stars in all that
Nickelodeon cast Amanda Bynes in a sketch-comedy series called All That, where she frequently stole the show from her fellow cast members. She became well known for her spirited role in "Ask Ashley," a sketch about an advice columnist. Audiences began to remark -- as they still do today -- that she has a knack for comic timing, in the vein of female comedic greats like Lucille Ball and Tracey Ullman.
After four great years on the program -- during which time she won no less than four Kids' Choice Awards -- she was awarded her own show, appropriately titled The Amanda Show. Essentially, it was All That, with all Amanda. For three seasons it was the highest-rated live-action show on Nickelodeon.
amanda bynes in what i like about you
As with many young stars, Amanda Bynes' career has benefited from the influence of a mentor. Dan Schneider was the creator of both of her hit Nickelodeon shows, so it follows that he was the impetus and screenwriter behind Big Fat Liar, her 2002 film debut. Although Frankie Muniz from TV's Malcolm in the Middle was the movie's star attraction, audiences agree that Amanda's character was the funnier one, thanks to her physical comedy and hilarious impersonations.
Meanwhile, she was moving into the spotlight on her own. In 2002, the WB network began airing the sitcom What I Like About You, which had been in the works for some time as a vehicle for Amanda. She stars as a teenage girl who moves in with her older sister in New York City and, naturally, turns her sister's world upside down.
amanda bynes in hairspray
In 2003, Amanda Bynes could be seen in her first leading role (in only her second film) in What a Girl Wants, which is about an American teen in search of her father in London, England. Two years later, she appeared in the flicks Robots and Lovewrecked. In 2006, she had a role in She's The Man, and the following year Amanda appeared in Sydney White and the hit movie/musical Hairspray.
That same year, in 2007, Amanda Bynes signed a five-year deal with Steve & Barry's to create her own clothing collection, Dear.
As a designer
In 2007 Bynes inked a five year deal with Steve & Barry's (which had been expanding its product offerings outside of its traditional university apparel and sweatshirts) to create her own fashion line, "Dear", consisting of apparel and accessories. Every piece in the line is priced at $19.98 or less. The line launched in stores August 16, 2007.
Awards
Bynes won Blimp awards at the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards four years in a row, from 2000 to 2004 for Favorite Television Actress in 2001 for All That, Favorite Television Actress in 2002 for The Amanda Show as well as the following year. In 2003 she also received the Blimp for Favorite Movie Actress for Big Fat Liar and won another Blimp in 2004 for Favorite Movie Actress for What a Girl Wants. Bynes also was a part of the Hairspray ensemble win at the 2008 Critics' Choice Awards.
