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Bubbly, polite, and beautiful,  

AMANDA BYNES

  (picture below) is everything you'd imagine a teen starlet to be. But it's not just an image: It's Amanda.

Since age 10, she's had a successful acting Career that's made her a screen queen, conquering both television ("What I Like About You") and her new film "She's the Man." Next role? College freshman.

"I have such a busy mind and it's really hard for me to do one thing at a time," she explains when asked about her educational future. "I can't only be acting. I have to either be reading something or drawing. It's hard for me to sit still."

"I want to go to college, and I definitely feel like it's in my future," she says. In fact, she plans to start taking classes in the fall. "For me, it's not so much about graduating as much as it is trying to keep myself educated by taking different types of courses."



Like any college freshman, Amanda is struggling to choose a Major. "I have no idea. Not yet," she says. But she does express an interest in literature and art.

Amanda's comedic timing is impeccable, but her sense of reality is really the key to her success. Asked what she'd be doing if not acting, she rationalizes: "I'd be the exact same person. I'd just be in a different setting, doing a different Job. Because this is a job. It's not my life." That is actually what Amanda confesses she is most grateful for: "I don't need this. I love that I love to do it, but I could find another job if it started to change me."

That's refreshing from an actress whose peers are better known for their tabloid headlines than their artistic projects. Amanda tries to avoid that scene. She cites her Parents as her biggest influences.

"I grew up in a really normal household. I was never applauded for anything besides doing well in school. I always had good morals growing up. Obviously, I'm a kid so I do a lot of stupid stuff, but I'm trying the best I can. It's a learning experience -- life."

How does Amanda conquer new experiences? "You can't overthink in life. Being a girl, you can't help but overanalyze things," she says. "I'm always thinking. I'll make something scarier than it is. The only thing to do is check your ego at the door and do it without fear."

With "She's the Man" and various projects in the works, you'd think she'd have little time for self-exploration, but Amanda reveals otherwise.

"I'm constantly changing. That's the most shocking to me. The person I was five months ago is so different from the person I am now," she says. Certainly you can relate to that sentiment. "I think it's because we're at that age where the people you hang around have a positive or negative effect on you. It's important that you try to make friends with people who make you feel good about yourself." Smart advice for anyone -- especially those going off to school!

Despite Amanda's anything-but-average day job, she seems to share the same coming-of-age thoughts. So is NYU in her immediate future? Only time will tell, but it's safe to say Amanda Bynes will remain grounded no matter where her rising star takes her.

What Amanda Likes

The last book I read is...
"Running with Scissors." I love dark comedies. I like stuff that's realistic and that makes me laugh.

One of my favorite books is...
"The Princess Bride." It's a mixture of adventure and comedy, and it's also a love story.

If I weren't an actor, I'd probably be...
A lawyer. My sister's studying to be a lawyer right now. The tests are so logical. I'm good at focusing on something and doing it. Plus I feel like I'm good at fighting for things I believe in.

I'm happy when...
I know that I've put hard work into something. That's the best feeling in the world. Nothing's better than accomplishing something difficult.

The last time I accomplished something difficult was...
When I filmed "She's the Man." I was a guy for half of it. I couldn't believe I faked doing something like that. When I got through it, I felt like, "I did it!"

I'm insecure about...
Normal girl things: all the horrible things that nobody wants to deal with, like, "Why me! I'm not learning anything from this." My mom always says, "If there were never any downs, you wouldn't appreciate the ups." I think it's true. I think it's OK when things aren't always good. It evens itself out.

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