We’re running the risk of getting gossipy, but reports have surfaced about the last role of young comedienne Amanda Bynes, who recently and abruptly announced her retirement from acting via Twitter. Bynes, a popular child star who seemed to make a respectable transition to mid-level adult celebrity, at least seemed a rung above, say, the bottom feeders who populate “celebrity” reality shows. Though with her announcement comes rampant speculation regarding what was to be her final acting effort, in the Farrelly Brothers comedy “Hall Pass.”
The Daily Beast reports that her behavior on the set of the comedy – a studio effort with Owen Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jenna Fischer and Jason Sudeikis – was “paranoid and fearful” and that, despite the attempts of Wilson and the Farrellys, “nothing changed” and later she took to her Twitter, saying she was not featured in “Hall Pass” due to a “scheduling conflict.” The report also cites “insiders” describing Bynes’ “diva-like behavior” but there’s only a dubious Page Six report to confirm that. Most have gone to her fairly explicit Twitter page, where she’s posted very candid messages about her social life, but armchair psychologists should note that most young Hollywood stars have nakedly confessional social network accounts they share with their fans, and as long as they’re experiencing success, no one cares.
Bynes, a talented physical performer, hasn’t had the best of luck, picking a number of questionable projects as she transitioned from working in television non-stop as a child. She scored with a supporting role in “Hairspray” as one of the more entertaining elements of that box office hit, but her solo efforts were met with indifference. Still, the actress, who will be seen in this fall’s “Easy A,” is a textbook case of a child star who hasn’t really been allowed to have a life. Working in television is grueling, and being on three successful programs through your tween and teen years eliminates quite a bit of necessary of free time. Bynes, after all, is only 24, and in some ways, she’s still a kid.
For every Taylor Lautner, there’s a billion young stars desperately trying to make it in Hollywood, some of them trained workaholics before they leave the nest. Often they fail, which isn’t a reflection of their talent, as much about working in show business is a crapshoot. It’s not hard to believe failure finally got to Bynes, as most people tend to get “paranoid and fearful” when they fail to make a living doing what they do. Most seem dubious as to her retirement claims, but when there are reports of crew members on “Hall Pass” secretly filming her during her questionable behavior, and with the media nearly having a countdown party whenever someone young and famous looks like they’re having a nervous breakdown, we’re hoping against everyone’s primitive expectations that she finds something worth doing in her life.