Published originally in the Conta Costa Times
Republished in the Wilson County News: http://www.wilsoncountynews.com/article.php?id=11328&n=teen-scene-bynes-is-more-than-just-a-teen-actress
By Casey Capachi
Some might dismiss Amanda Bynes as just another “teen queen.” To do this would be a mistake. The actress who has been compared to screen legends Lucille Ball and Goldie Hawn possesses a talent for comedic timing that many believe cannot be taught.
Although Bynes still chooses teen roles, it isn’t because she can’t act. She is simply in no rush to grow up — at least not yet. “I’m only 19 and I still like these kinds of movies. I don’t want to grow up so fast because then you’re an adult for the rest of your life. When I’m 25 then it will definitely be time to play more serious roles,” said Bynes.
Don’t be fooled by the parts Bynes plays, the actress has a sense of self that is refreshingly mature among a multitude of teen starlets featured in tabloids for anything but their movies. “I don’t know how they [teen actors] do it. I get so tired because I’m always working. I simply don’t have time to go to all the press functions and parties. The key is that no matter how much you like your job it’s important to keep your life,” said Bynes.
Balancing her public image and personal life has always been one of Bynes’s strengths. Bynes considered attending New York University in the fall, but has decided she isn’t ready to take a break from work just yet. “I still want to take classes. I just think college is one of those set things for everyone.
My life has been different because of acting. And for better of or for worse I have different plans,” said Bynes.
While Bynes still has her foot in TV (she co-stars on the WB show “What I Like About You.”), she’s exploring her film opportunities. Bynes started filming commercials when she was 7. At age 13, she became the host of her own show on Nickelodeon, “The Amanda Show.” She played her first leading role in a movie in 2003’s “What a Girl Wants.” “Films are something I’ve always wanted to do. I think everybody grows up watching movies and dreaming to be in one. TV is fun but there’s something about movies that has more of a fantastical feel,” said Bynes.
Bynes stars in the new movie “She’s the Man,” out Friday, with a virtually unknown cast of young beauties. The movie is about a girl (Viola) whose soccer team at her high school is dropped. Since the boys soccer coach won’t let girls on the team, Viola decides to prove him and the team wrong by playing for the rival school…pretending to be her brother. Confused love triangles and plenty of slapstick humor ensues.
“I just like good scripts and they’re really hard to find. When I read “She’s the Man” it sounded like a perfect fit for me. I knew playing a boy would be a challenge but I wanted to show people I could do it,” said Bynes. “She’s the Man is a feel-good movie. As far as a teen comedy goes the fact that the movie is based on Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night gives it an edge. The message of the movie is to always be yourself. You don’t have to go through a big mess like Viola does just to prove a point,” said Bynes’s costar Laura Ramsey.
For costar Channing Tatum, a former Abercrombie & Fitch model, it was Bynes who sold him on doing the movie. “Amanda is truly one of the best actresses of our age group. As a kid I watched her on Nickelodeon and she always blew me away. After acting with Amanda I’m not afraid to do comedy,” said Tatum.
Robert Hoffman who stars as Bynes’s ‘jerk’ boyfriend agrees that Amanda played a major part in his decision to take the part. “It was awesome, fun and flattering to work with Amanda. But at the Same time it was like working with your friend. To be so young and to have so much success you’d never anticipate Amanda to be so humble and so normal. She really makes an effort not to let what she’s got get to her. She’ll never stop treating people equally,” said Hoffman.
With talent and an attitude no other actor in her age group is known for, Bynes’s career is just beginning. A thought unimaginable for most child stars.
“Everything in life is so planned. I don’t like controlling anything. Everything that I’ve done has been right for me at that time. I couldn’t do what I did three years ago and I have no idea what I will be doing in ten years. I just want to tell good stories and do good work-I don’t care what it is,” said Bynes.
The biography of Amanda Bynes seems like a good story so far.