Amanda Laura Bynes became interested in acting and performing from the very young age. 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 and skits, especially the "Ask Ashley" skit where she played a little girl running an advice column who would get very angry every time she read a letter. From that time it was known to her family and friends that some day she would become a star. 
She also won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award and, at age fifteen, ended "The Amanda Show." In the year 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 Sixteenth birthday and got her drivers license on April 3, 2002.

In 1999, thirteen 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.