Amanda Bynes Struggled To Reveal Truths About Her Child Star Experience During An Old Conan Interview

Summary

• Amanda Bynes originally downplayed her struggles growing up in the public eye during a 2005 interview with Conan O'Brien.
• Despite claims of positivity, Bynes later admitted to struggling with substance abuse issues during the same period.
• Bynes chose not to participate in a documentary detailing behind-the-scenes secrets of Nickelodeon.

Many consider what happened to Amanda Bynes to be a tragedy. Despite Bynes' claim that her experience as a Nickelodeon child star wasn't as negative as what's been exposed in the documentary, Quiet On Set, fans see what she's been up to since as a sign of a major career downfall. They also look back on her leaked hot tub video with producer Dan Schneider as a sign of a far darker experience regardless of what she says.

Prior to Bynes' notable mental health issues and withdrawal from the public eye, she spoke to Conan O'Brien about her experience as a child star. This article will reveal what she said to the wealthy late-night talk show comedian and other interviewers around that time. As well as point out how her answers weren't entirely truthful given the information we know today. Following that, we will reveal why Bynes refused to bash Nickelodeon in the 2024 documentary about dark behind-the-scenes secrets.

Amanda Bynes' Interview With Conan O'Brien Dealt With Her Child Star Experience

There's no doubt that Amanda Bynes has been through the wringer in recent years. Much of this started in 2013 after a very public breakdown that caused her to be placed in a psychiatric hold. This occurred a year after she withdrew from the spotlight and quit acting. Her feelings toward her career seemingly shifted drastically from her early days on The Amanda Show and in moves like Easy A and Hairspray. But an old interview sheds light on her true relationship with fame in her A-list days.

During an interview on Conan O'Brien's late-night talk show in September 2005, Amanda Bynes revealed that she started in the business when she was just 7 years old. This caused the comedian to inquire about how growing up in the public eye affected her.

"You've been very successful but I was thinking [that] you grew up on television and a lot of us have to go through these awkward stages and you did so on TV."

O'Brien then asked if that experience was difficult for Bynes to which she replied, "Not when you're nine." But she admitted that being in the spotlight through puberty was more challenging. Especially since so many eyes were on her growth spurt and her acen problems.

"It's not fun... at all."

At the time of the 2005 interview, Amanda Bynes was 19-years-old. O'Brien claimed that while she was still young, she likely felt as though she had been acting forever. After all, Bynes had been in the industry since she was seven.

"19 is a strange age because you're mature, you're growing up, but there's still things you probably want to do like Halloween [parties]."

Bynes claimed that she still celebrated Halloween but she had an entire hair and makeup team to help her with her costume. This answer illustrated the contrast between her experience as a young adult and the experience of most people. Despite her positive attitude about her experience being famous, it was clear that her life was very different.

According to USA Today, Bynes was dealing with substance issues around the time of the interview. So her answers weren't entirely fully truthful. She was out there partying like many teenagers, but she was starting to experience hard drugs and prescription meds. In an interview with an Australian talk show host a year later, Bynes was asked about how she avoids the partying lifestyle and the negative spots in the tabloids that come with it. Her answer was also in stark contrast to what she later said about her career. Although, admittedly, Bynes did avoid media scrutiny while at the height of her fame. Despite the fact that we later learned she was dealing with addiction issues.

"I think there's so many girls who go to parties and are photographed doing it and I think they feed off of it. I think it makes them feel more of a celebrity or something. That's just not who I am. And you just don't need one more of those. I'm trying to go the other route and trying to be a good role model for kids.

In her interview with Conan O'Brien, Bynes also answered questions about her love life. She stated that she was looking for someone "passionate about something", preferably not a fellow actor. This was in contrast to the majority of the people in her relationship history who were famous.

Amanda Bynes seemed to have a lot of appreciation for all the success that she had when she was young. Her comments during her interview with Conan O'Brien were very similar to what she said to Wayne Brady during their interview in 2003. During the interview, Bynes spoke about her show with Jennie Garth, What I Like About You. She claimed that she was "having a great time" which is in stark contrast with her comments in 2012, which stated that she grew to hate acting despite her success.

However, during her interview with Wayne Brady, Bynes did admit that she wanted to take some time off to pursue a university degree but that she would return to acting.

Amanda Bynes Said Nothing Negative About Her Experience At Nickelodeon

Following her public meltdown, decision to quit acting, and conservatorship, Bynes decided to change her career and become a manicurist. The news of her notable career change was followed by the documentary about the scandals taking place at Nickelodeon, the home of All That and The Amanda Show -- the series that launched her career and made her famous.

According to TMZ, Bynes was approached to take part in the Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, but she declined. In fact, she stated that she had nothing to add to the documentary that would "further their cause". According to her rep, she also was thankful for how Nickelodeon launched her career.