Amanda Bynes was one of the most prominent child stars of the late 1990s and the early 2000s, but she has been through a lot in recent years as she faced various struggles
For those who grew up in the late ’90s and early noughties, Amanda Bynes was a household name.
The actress began her ascent to stardom as a youngster in Nickelodeon’s hit sketch show All That, which aired from 1996 until 2000. She became even more of a teen icon with her own spin-off, The Amanda Show, from 1999 to 2002 – a programme many will fondly recall.
But the actress didn’t stop there, as she quickly made the leap to the big screen, landing roles in movies like Big Fat Liar (2002) and What a Girl Wants (2003). Her transition into adult roles included memorable performances in She’s the Man (2006), Hairspray (2007) and Easy A (2010).
Despite her early success, Amanda, now 39, has faced numerous personal challenges. In 2010, she stepped away from acting, citing a lack of interest in continuing her career and choosing to explore new avenues.
Recently, an insider shared some poignant details about how Bynes coped with fame during her school years, revealing a daily routine that can only be described as deeply saddening.
A Reddit user reflected on Bynes’ journey, expressing regret over her career trajectory: “I always wish things could’ve been different for Amanda Bynes. She was such a good actress and could’ve been huge in the industry. It’s quite sad.”
In the midst of an online discussion, fans shared various encounters with Amanda Bynes, but one story particularly pulled on the heartstrings. Someone else shared: “A friend of mine went to California for school. She ended up taking interior design classes with Amanda Bynes.
“Amanda wore a paper bag on her head most days, even though nobody cared about her celebrity status. Very sad. Hope she’s doing well.”
To this, another person responded: “That is incredibly sad.” Echoing the sentiment, someone else said: “Ugh this breaks my heart.”
As she scaled the heights of fame, Amanda shocked devotees with the announcement that she was bidding farewell to acting. Following her surprising exit from the industry, she has been through a turbulent period under the media spotlight, grappling with a highly publicised mental health battle, brushes with the law, allegations of drug misuse and a temporary conservatorship.
At the moment of her acting departure, Amanda informed her followers in a Tweet: “I don’t love acting anymore so I’ve stopped doing it.” In the years following her declaration, her life continued to spiral as she had an altercation with the police amongst a series of distressing public incidents.
She found herself under psychiatric hold after she allegedly lit a fire in the driveway of a house in Thousand Oaks, California, as reported by Hollywood Reporter. After this, she experienced multiple car accidents and also faced a hit-and-run charge, according to reports by CNN.
Amanda also stunned fans with her transformation including dying her hair, new piercings and a heart-shaped face tattoo.
Back in 2014, she bravely disclosed on social media her struggles with bipolar disorder, which led to manic episodes. In the same vein, in an unflinching chat with PAPER’s “Break the Internet” issue, she delved into her past drug use, admitting a battle with Adderall addiction, experimenting with drugs like molly, ecstasy, marijuana and having tried cocaine, which she didn’t take to.
Her erratic public behaviour led her mother Lynn to step in, securing a temporary conservatorship in 2013 to safeguard both Amanda and her assets. The legal safety net was lifted when Amanda successfully petitioned the court in February 2022 for its release, confident in her improved state as conveyed by her lawyer.
At the time, her attorney David A. Esquibias told People: “She believes her condition is improved and protection of the court is no longer necessary.”
With the court’s approval, Amanda reclaimed her estate and has reportedly been navigating mental health challenges while exploring future career opportunities and creative pursuits.
Amanda’s representatives have been approached for a response to the allegations made by her classmate.
