Amanda Bynes' Best Movies and TV Shows: From Nickelodeon Star to Teen Icon (2024)

Amanda Bynes on 'All That'

Amanda Bynes got her start in kids' comedy clubs and commercials before joining the cast of Nickelodeon's All That in 1996 at just 10 years old.

When her time was up on stage during her routines, "they would physically carry her off," her dad Rick once recalled to PEOPLE. "She didn't want to give up the spotlight."

Amanda Bynes on 'The Amanda Show'

Bynes' talents opened the door to a second Nick comedy series, The Amanda Show, which earned her three consecutive Kids Choice Awards for favorite actress from 2001 to 2003.

By 2003, Forbes had her ranked as No. 97 on the Celebrity 100 list, estimating her net worth to be $2 million.

Allegations of a toxic work culture behind the scenes at Nickelodeon during Bynes' time on the network are the topic of a new documentary, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, streaming now on Max. Bynes did not participate nor has she commented on the film.

Amanda Bynes in 'Big Fat Liar'

Bynes made her first move to movies alongside fellow child star Frankie Muniz in 2002's Big Fat Liar.

"It wasn't work," Bynes told PEOPLE at the time. "We were just being goofy kids."

For his part, Muniz admitted he "had a huge crush" on his costar. But to her, "He's just a great kid," she said, adding, "I'm taller than he is and I'm still growing."

Amanda Bynes on 'What I Like About You'

At the same time, Bynes was starring on another series, playing Jennie Garth's little sister on the breezy WB sitcom What I Like About You.

"That show was so much fun to make," Garth told Yahoo! Entertainment in 2022. "Fans of that show are super loyal. Like, it was kind of a cult following of its own. We were on for four years, and it was just a really great time."

Amanda Bynes in 'What a Girl Wants'

Though her 2003 film What a Girl Wants didn't get the best reviews, critics including Roger Ebert remained impressed by Bynes' acting talents, especially alongside her on-screen parents Kelly Preston and Colin Firth.

Amanda Bynes in 'She's the Man'

Bynes starred opposite relative newcomer Channing Tatum in this Twelfth Night reboot, 2006's She's the Man, about a girl who attempts to live as her twin brother so she can play on the boys' soccer team.

PEOPLE's reviewer praised Bynes' "flair for physical comedy" in the "feisty comedy," and how she was "nailing the faux toughness of adolescent boys."

Amanda Bynes in 'Hairspray'

As bubbly teen Penny Pingleton, Bynes showcased her singing skills alongside star Nikki Blonsky in the star-studded 2007 movie rendition of Hairspray the musical. The role earned her a Critics Choice Award and Hollywood Film Award in addition to her first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination as part of the ensemble.

"We were always bouncing around set, dancing and singing and having a good time," Blonsky told PEOPLE in 2022. "So definitely what you saw on screen was so real — that friendship was so real. To work with somebody whose humor was equivalent to a youngLucille 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."

Amanda Bynes in 'Sydney White'

In another teen rom-com, Bynes played the titular Sydney White, a modern-day Snow White who wrangles seven outsiders to help her "overthrow an evil sorority queen who rules the campus," per PEOPLE's 2007 review, which also once again lauded the star's acting skills: "Bynes is a natural clown."

Amanda Bynes in 'Easy A'

Easy A marked Bynes' last role before she took a step away from acting. The 2010 teen film — inspired by The Scarlet Letter —sees Emma Stone's Olive Penderghast slandered in part by Bynes' purist Marianne Bryant. The movie earned raves and more than $75 million at the box office.

Before the movie dropped, Bynes tweeted her retirement plans, writing, "Being an actress isn't as fun as it may seem." She later retracted the statement, though told PEOPLE one year later, "I really just needed some time off."