Amanda Bynes

While most of her peers were still worrying about curfews and pimples, Amanda Bynes was starring in her own TV show at the age of 13. Her fearlessness and comedic timing earned the actress rave reviews and a preteen fan base for "The Amanda Show" (Nickelodeon, 1999-2001). Bynes' sketch comedy show was described as "'Saturday Night Live' for the tween set," while the actress was being compared to her idol, comedy legend Lucille Ball, due to her wacky characters like Judge Trudy and dorky Penelope Taynt. But it was her work stealing scenes from her veteran co-star Jennie Garth on the successful sitcom, "What I Like About You" (The WB, 2002-06) that put Bynes on the mainstream, non-tween radar. The actress further distanced herself from her Nickelodeon roots with a supporting turn opposite the likes of John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer in the musical hit "Hairspray" (2007), followed by a rare turn as a villain in the intelligent teen comedy "Easy A" (2010). While Hollywood was rife with examples of child stars who faded into obscurity with the onset of adulthood, Bynes had positioned herself to mature into a well-rounded mainstream actress.