Amanda Laura Bynes was born on April 3, 1986, in Thousand Oaks, California. The youngest of three children, she 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. 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, in which she starred in all of the skits except Totally Kyle. In 2001, she co-starred with Frankie Muniz in Big Fat Liar 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 and Big Fat Liar, 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 ended its run.

In 2002, she began co-starring with Jennie Garth in What I Like About You 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 with Colin Firth and Kelly Preston as her parents. She continued acting in What I Like About You and broke up with Taran.

On April 3, 2004, Amanda celebrated her 18th birthday on the 17th Annual KCA Awards, where we she won an award for best actress for her role in What a Girl Wants. She graduated from Thousand Oaks High School's independent study program on June 10, 2004, and filmed Lovewrecked in 2004. A prodigiously talented comedienne, she promises to have a lifelong career.



Lives in Ventura County, California, with her Dad, Rick, who is a dentist; her Mom, Lynn, who works in her father's dental office, and her sister Jillian (b. 1983). She also has a brother, Tommy (b. 1974), who is a chiropractor, as well as a niece named Jaylyn (b. March 4, 2004). Had her own variety show at age 13. Her mother's family lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Favorite subject is English. 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 attended USC. Graduated from Thousand Oaks High, Class of 2004. At 17, she was rated 2003's 3rd hottest teen female star. Likes roses. 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. Her inspirations came from Bette Midler and Lucille Ball. She donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign. Has 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. Ranked #46 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list. Is half-Jewish.