Biography
Date of Birth
3 December 1986, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
Birth Name
Amanda Laura Bynes
Nickname
Chicky
Height
5' 8" (1.73 m)
Mini Biography
Amanda Laura Bynes was born on April 3, 1986, in Thousand Oaks, California, the youngest of three children of Lynn (Organ), a dental assistant, and Richard Bynes, a dentist. Her father is of Lithuanian, Irish, and Polish descent, and her mother is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family from Toronto. Amanda became interested in acting and performing from the age of three, when she would say her older sister Jillian's lines with her while she performed in plays. It was from then on that her family and friends knew that she would be a star someday.
Her acting debut was in 1996, when she auditioned for and got the role as a newcomer on All That (1994). Right away, she became very popular as people enjoyed her acting in skits, especially Ask Ashley, where she played a little girl running an advice column who would get very angry every time she read a letter.
In 1999, 13-year-old Amanda was given her own variety show, The Amanda Show (1999), in which she starred in all of the skits except Totally Kyle. In 2001, she co-starred with Frankie Muniz in Big Fat Liar (2002) as Kaylee, Jason's friend who helps him prove that he really did write the essay "Big Fat Liar" and regain his father's trust. It was also in 2001 that she began dating Taran Killam from The Amanda Show (1999) and Big Fat Liar (2002), who is four years and two days older than she is. She also won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award and, at age 15, The Amanda Show (1999) ended its run.
In 2002, she began co-starring with Jennie Garth in What I Like About You (2002) as Holly, a 16-year-old girl who moves in with her sister after their father decides to move to Japan. She also celebrated her Sweet 16th birthday and got her driver's license on April 3, 2002.
In 2003, Amanda won two KCA Awards and starred as Daphne, a girl searching for her father, in What a Girl Wants (2003) with Colin Firth and Kelly Preston as her parents. She continued acting in What I Like About You (2002) and broke up with Taran.
A prodigiously talented comedienne, on April 3, 2004, Amanda celebrated her 18th birthday on the 17th Annual KCA Awards, where she won an award for best actress for her role in What a Girl Wants (2003). She graduated from Thousand Oaks High School's independent study program on June 10, 2004, and filmed Lovewrecked (2005) in 2004.
Trivia
Dad, Rick Bynes, is a retired dentist. Her Mom, Lynn Bynes ( née Organ ) , worked in her father's dental office. She has a sister, Jillian Bynes (b. February 1, 1983), and a brother, Thomas (b. December 5, 1973), who is a chiropractor, as well as a niece named Jaylynn (b. March 4, 2004).
Was a straight-A student.
Owns a Honda Accord.
Her mother's family lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Has two dogs: Tootsie Roll (golden labrador) and Betty Boop (Australian shepherd), three cats, Subbie, Dubbie and Tiger, and a fish named Bella.
Her brother Tommy was a student at Thousand Oaks High School.
At the age of 7, had been in community plays starring in "Annie" at the Camarillo Youth Center. Her first rave reviews appeared when a reviewer from Ventura Star newspaper called her "sensational" as Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird" (at the Arts Council Center in Thousand Oaks) and "even more impressive" in the lead as Mary in "The Secret Garden" (at the Conejo Players Theater).
Her father Rick was born in Chicago, Illinois, and he attended USC.
Had a lemon tree in her family's backyard.
Graduated from Thousand Oaks High, Class of 2004.
Has about eight Juicy Couture outfits (2003).
Rank at #33 on the E! 50 Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up (2005)
She currently (2006) drives a 2005 white Lexus SC430.
She currently (2006) lives in an apartment in Hollywood, California with her dog Midge.
Her inspirations came from Bette Midler and Lucille Ball.
Is good friends with Frankie Muniz, Kellan Rhude and Hairspray (2007) co-star Zac Efron.
She donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign.
In August 2007 she launched her own clothing line, "Dear by Amanda Bynes", in conjunction with Steve and Barry's chain of stores.
Enjoys fashion design and drawing; presented David Letterman with a portrait she had painted of him.
Trained by Arsenio Hall and Richard Pryor at a comedy camp she attended.
Ranked #46 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 women of 2008 list.
Favorite comedic actress is Lucille Ball. Numerous times, has been compared to Lucille due to her expertise slapstick routines displayed in her shows and movies. Once in the show All That (1994), she did a sketch that parodied Lucille Ball's famous show I Love Lucy (1951), playing Lucy.
In June 2010, she announced (via Twitter) her retirement from acting. She retracted said announcement in August of that same year, although she hasn't yet made a comeback.
The surname "Bynes" traces back to Amanda's great-grandfather, Joseph Bynes, who was born in Lithuania. Amanda's father is of Lithuanian, Irish, and Polish ancestry. Amanda's mother's family is Jewish (they moved from Poland, Russia, and Romania to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where Amanda's maternal grandparents were from).
Voted No. 30 on the 2011 Maxim list "Hot 100" women.
First concert she ever attended was Britney Spears'.
After clipping the back of a L.A. County Sheriff's car in West Hollywood on April 6, 2012, was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). Was later released on $5,000 bail.
Has been charged with two counts of hit and run on September 4, 2012 in Los Angeles.
Was bridesmaid on her older sister Jillian Bynes' wedding on July 26, 2008. The sisters are estranged now because of Amanda's lifestyle.
Diagnosed with Schizophrenia after being placed on an involuntary 72-hour 5150 psychiatric hold in July of 2013. The mental health evaluation was later extended.
Was considered for the role of "Jess" in New Girl (2011). The part went to Zooey Deschanel.
Currently filming episodes of her show What I Like About You (2002) and going on different talk shows. She was also nominated for two Kids' Choice Awards for the 17th Annual KCA Awards, scheduled for her 18th birthday. [January 2004]
Co-hosts The View (1997) on May 6 and 7th... Also will soon start filming She's the Man (2006) for DreamWorks Pictures. [May 2005]
Shooting the cover of "Seventeen" magazine. [March 2008]
Was considered for the role of Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).
Is addicted to online shopping.
Paper Boy and Ms. Pac Man are her favorite childhood video games.
First concert was the Spice Girls. She always wanted to be Posh.
Graduated from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. [June 2019].
Plays the piano and the violin.
In December 2013, she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Irvine for 2014. In 2018, she received her Associate's of Art degree in Merchandise Product Development and announced her intentions to start a bachelor's degree program.
Always falls asleep during massages.
Met Paul Michael in February 2019, and they started dating shortly afterward. They got engaged on February 14, 2020.
Had plastic surgery in 2013 that drastically altered her features.
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.
