One last Q&A from the MTV Movie Awards, PopWatchers, and then I won’t say "fuchsia carpet" ever, ever again (DON’T THINK YOU’RE GETTING OFF THE HOOK, JON VOIGHT): After the jump is my quick chat with the lovely and talented Amanda Bynes, who is starring in this summer’s Hairspray re-re-adaptation, and who appears to have suddenly become 21 years old.
I am flabbergasted at how this could have happened, as to the best of my knowledge the spunky little Nickelodeon farmhand (pictured, left, on her old Nick series The Amanda Show and at right arriving at Sunday’s awards ceremony) has never been incarcerated, been publicly intoxicated, flashed her lady parts, dated Wilmer Valderrama, battled an eating disorder, or emancipated herself from an overbearing parent. In fact, it seems as though for the last 14 years, Amanda Bynes has done nothing but work hard, act well, have shiny hair, find the funny, and generally be the man. And now that she’s a legal adult, she can go forth and prosper both in her career and in her life, unbesmirched by police records, dumbass catchphrases, unfortunate vomiting incidents, poor financial choices, or herpes. Huh. That’s crazy.
Entertainment Weekly: When you get this dressed up for… [sweeping gesture with hand] this, how do you take it to the next level for an Emmys, or Oscars?
Amanda Bynes: That’s a good point. Well, I haven’t been asked to those yet, so I figure I’m not gonna worry about it. But I guess for that I’d wear a longer gown. This is, you know, a mid-thigh cut, so I figure at least it’s a little bit younger. But you know, I’ve always wanted to wear a gown. I’ve never really worn one.
EW: Never?
AB: No! I’ve never been to the Oscars or the Emmys. So I just gotta keep doing a good job in movies, and hoping I will one day be nominated, and then I’ll get to go. But I’m a big fan of not going somewhere unless you’re involved in a movie that’s being nominated or something. Otherwise I feel like you’re just going to go, and I think that’s kind of cheesy and annoying. So, [tonight] I’m just like, I was invited, I’m part of a movie that’s presenting [Hairspray], so I’ll go. But otherwise I like to sit home with my popcorn and my parents, and pick out things I like and don’t like about other people’s attire.
EW: Not to be creepy, but you’re freaking me out by how grown up you are right now.
AB: Really? I’m sorry. [pauses] People have said that.
EW: Could you stop?
AB: I don’t know what to do! I’ve tried to press my head down… but you know what? I’m 21 now, and I don’t want to be so sexy that it’s uncomfortable, so I’m definitely not doing any movies that are uncomfortable to watch. But there’s cute boys around. You know. You wanna look a little sexy.
EW: Who are you macking on?
AB: Um, nobody that I can say in Entertainment Weekly!
EW: I wouldn’t have printed it.
AB: It’s a respectable magazine!
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Did Bynes get a chin enhancement? She looks different those two photos.
When they cut to Amanda during the MTV Movie Awards, I was convinced it was Hayden Pannetierre (I’m sure I just butchered her last name), which is weird because this article is party about how Amanda looks more grown up and Hayden is about four years younger.
It wasn’t until the cast of “Hairspray” came out to present the night’s biggest award (huh?!) that I realized it was Amanda Bynes
I’ve always liked her. She’s so cute and funny and sweet! I really wish her nothing but success. She’s talented and we really could use more funny and clever women out there in Hollywood.
Aw, I’ve liked her since she was on “All That”. I even watched “What A Girl Wants”.
love, love, love amanda bynes. i wish her all the best.
It is always refreshing to see a young actor/actress who has grown up in the business and did not go down the drugs/drinking/public displays of stupidity path. I’m glad EW is celebrating the positive and I wish more entertainment outlets would focus on that.
Other young stars that deserve recognition include Alexis Bledel, Raven Symone, Julia Stiles, etc.
Co Sign On Raven
Much respect!
MM-don’t forget Shia LaBeouf! He is, in my opinion, the best out of all his peers today…
You probably didn’t realize she grew up becuase she’s been doing movies for the last six years….movies only about four people have seen.
Her box office gross is just slightly higher than the price of a used 88 volvo wagon.
Amanda Bynes has no figure. She needs some junk in the trunk. Not to mention, she’ll probably never really become that big of a star. Her personality is annoying.
I’ve liked Amanda since her days on Nick’s “All That”. Keenan and Kel were a great pair, but she added that touch of subtle childhood obnoxiousness that’s really fun to watch in a kid show.
And not all movie chicas grow up to be come Drew Barrymore wanna bes (that’s right Lindsay, your stuff’s not just tired, it was done 20 YEARS AGO already by a cuter actress), some, like Christina Ricci, Kirsten Dunst and now Amanda Bynes, simply grow up to become better actresses.
Geemoney and Pete- I take it you must prefer the Paris and Lindsey types to a refreshing and honest girl like Amanda Bynes. Give me a break.
I think she’s one of the most comically gifted young actresses out there and know she has an amazing future. Good for her!
I love that there’s so much love for her here. She really does have talent and one day I think she’s just really going to take off.
To the negative people: So what if she doesn’t have some amazing career right now! You would prefer she peaked at a young age and was spiraling down by now like Lindsay?
Ouch, Gee Money, that’s way harsh. Would you prefer she had a bubble butt, treated regular people like crap and snorted coke off people’s abs?
“has never been incarcerated, been publicly intoxicated, flashed her lady parts, dated Wilmer Valderrama, battled an eating disorder, or emancipated herself from an overbearing parent. In fact, it seems as though for the last 14 years, Amanda Bynes has done nothing but work hard, act well, have shiny hair, find the funny, and generally be the man. And now that she’s a legal adult, she can go forth and prosper both in her career and in her life, unbesmirched by police records, dumbass catchphrases, unfortunate vomiting incidents, poor financial choices, or herpes. Huh. That’s crazy.”
truer words
Only pejorative thing I can think of is clear anorexia. She would be way hotter of she gained some weight.
Why are people criticizing the box office gross of her movies when her peers have had their share of bombs recently? (I’m looking at you, Lindsay Lohan…you haven’t done anything decent since “Mean Girls.”)
I love Amanda Bynes. Though I caught her Love Wrecked movie on ABC family and thought she looks a lot skinnier than she did a few years ago in What a Girl Wants. Hopefully its just natural growing.
I think Amanda has made all the right decisions in her career so far. She’s built up a resume full of funny and loveable roles that women can cheer for. We all know that in the end, it’s the Julia Robert, Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan that dominate Hollywood, not those glamour stars that women cannot relate to. I think if Amanda keeps on picking roles toward romantic comedy, she’ll be fine and even more famous in the future. Just leave all the glamour stuff to Scarlett and Lindsay who have come to believe that they’re the second coming of Marilyn Monroe.
Last month I was talking to a young woman about role models in her age group.
We both sat there, just silent, for about a minute, running through and rejecting dozens of people until we finally came up with Amanda Bynes.
Now, there’s a cadre of parents, family, agents, managers, and handlers who know what they’re doing.
Overworking and overexposing a child star is a surefire recipe for disaster. To turn a little human being into a commodity usually ends in tragedy
It’s nice to see someone who is surrounded with smart and professional people who protect her image and her dignity.
And as for her slenderness – she’s always been a very willowy child with a delicate bone structure. I don’t think it’s logical to whip out the anorexia card every time we see a slender person. She’s not gaunt, or pale, and she has normal fat distribution.
All in all – Miss Amanda and her machine win the fame game hands down. Huzzah team Bynes!
While she’s not the most gorgeous actress, Amanda is pretty. And funny, which is a quality that makes her more attractive. I thought she was the only thing that saved SHE’S THE MAN. But she is looking dangerously thin…
Her weight gain is from doing Hairspray, she probably hasn’t lost it all yet.
I LOVED She’s the Man (yeah, and I’m a full-fledged adult at 27). My brother (20) and his friends were shocked when they also found it LOL-funny. I was shocked when I found out they all had crushes on her! Thanks for reporting something positive!
Bravo, Amanda Bynes, for refusing to be just another drunk, drug-addicted young actress. I hope you continue to work hard and be successful.
LOVE Amanda Bynes! One of the FEW young actresses out there who has an innate sense of humor – anyone seen The Amanda Show?
Whitney, you should have asked her about that shout out she got on The Office (the Bob Hope comparison from Kelly). That was awesome. Even Michael said he loved her movie.
i’ve liked amanda ever since all that; especially ask ashley. good for her for and her parents that she seems to have grown up normally.
What a refreshing change from the trainwrecks we usually see – Lindsay, Britney, Paris…. It’s nice to have a role model young girls can look up to.
Your a moron if you think that hating amanda bynes means you like paris hilton or lindsay lohan.
They all suck, and your an idiot if you think that hating one means liking another.
Paris and Lindsay are shallow, trashy, self important spoiled brats.
Amanda is annoying, has TERRIBLE Comiedic timing, and stars in god awful movies.
So in conclusion, I hate all three, and stop trying to paint us all as hilton lovers you moron.