Vintage commercials for “The Amanda Show” described Bynes with the tagline, “There’s something funny about that girl!”
Bynes’s precocious comedic timing helped propel her to fame at a young age, and the now-36-year-old actress would go on to make a name for herself through multiple television shows on Nickelodeon during the nineties and early aughts.
By the middle of the decade, this funny gal had expanded her resume and filmography to include some of the most memorable teen films of the decade, including “She’s The Man” and the 2007 remake of John Waters’ eighties cult comedy classic “Hairspray.”
Despite a tumultuous string of events over the previous decade pertaining to her personal life, Bynes’ fans and former co-stars fondly remember her for her warmth and the wise-beyond-her-years acting ability she possessed, which often led to Bynes being compared to Old Hollywood legends like Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett.
What Went Wrong?: Inside Bynes’ Behind-The-Scenes Turmoil
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Throughout pop culture history there have been countless examples of teen stars who were exposed to the ‘darker’ side of being a public figure and achieving a level of fame that even the most level-headed adults and Hollywood veterans would struggle with.
At the peak of her aughts era fame, Bynes would often be compared to her fellow teen girl peers in the spotlight, and outlets would often praise her for managing to keep her personal life out of the spotlight, and seemingly not sharing a fondness for a clubbing-friendly lifestyle like many of her fellow-It girl peers enjoyed; this clip perfectly illustrates the portrayal of Bynes being painted as a ‘good girl’ figure while her contemporaries Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan were shamed by the media for their choices.
Media outlets had a field day in the early 2010s after Bynes began publicly exhibiting concerning behavior. Last year we looked back on Bynes’ career and explored the reasons for her downward spiral.
Bynes candidly explained to Paper Magazine in a 2018 profile she endured a rough period while using Adderall in an attempt to help her self-esteem. She began using Adderall while filming “Hairspray.”
By 2010, Bynes experienced a turning point that lead her to rethink her time in the public eye.
“I literally couldn’t stand my appearance in ‘Easy A,’ she told Paper Magazine per The Blast, “and I didn’t like my performance. I was absolutely convinced I needed to stop acting after seeing it.”
Bynes memorably announced her retirement from acting and the public eye later that same year.
According to an NBC News report at the time, the then-24-year-old star tweeted, “Being an actress isn’t as fun as it may seem. If I don’t love something anymore I stop doing it.”
A Fond Friendship: Nikki Blonsky Reflects On Her Co-Star
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Although Bynes had started to experience the beginnings of a prolonged difficult period while filming 2007’s “Hairspray,” her spirit was highly regarded by her co-star Nikki Blonsky, and the experiences the duo shared while making the film have become cherished memories for Blonsky.
The 33-year-old entertainer recently looked back on her friendship with Bynes in People magazine.
“I was obsessed,” Blonsky told the outlet about her fondness for Bynes, “So to work with somebody whose humor was equivalent to a young Lucille Ball- I mean just a brilliant actress. And I’m just so thankful that I had such a great experience and that we got to play such best friends.”
The chemistry between the two actresses was also definitely not for show! Blonsky also told People “…Definitely what you saw on screen was so real- that friendship was so real.”
Making sure they were able to play incredibly close besties was also anything but a strenuous process! The duo crafted their friendship on film by genuinely enjoying one another’s company behind-the-scenes.
To pass the time while cameras weren’t rolling, Blonsky also detailed she and Bynes would spend time “bouncing around on set, dancing and singing and having a good time.”
Blonsky’s fond memories of Bynes are lifelong, and she hopes to make more someday.
“I hope I get to give her a big hug someday because I’ve always loved Amanda hugs. They’re great. They’re the best.” (via People)
