Amanda Bynes has been famous since the age of 10, after landing a role on Nickelodeon's sketch comedy show "All That." But lately, the 27-year-old is better known for legal trouble, tweeting brow-raising statements and photos, and increasing speculation about her mental health. (Bynes, for the record, has maintained that she's fine.)
Amanda Bynes became a superstar among the elementary-aged crowd starting in 1996 as a member of the Nickelodeon show "All That," on which she memorably played a sweet young lady full of rage during the "Ask Ashley" skit.
By 1999, Bynes had become popular enough to host her own show. Nickelodeon put her at the center of the "All That" spinoff, "The Amanda Show."
By 2002, Bynes parted ways with her Nickelodeon shows and transitioned into movies. She starred in "Big Fat Liar" that year and followed it up with 2003's "What A Girl Wants."
Bynes landed not only a hit TV series with "What I Like About You," on which she starred with Jennie Garth from 2002 to 2006, but also reportedly a new boyfriend. Bynes and co-star Nick Zano reportedly began dating in 2003.
Between 2005 and 2007, Bynes steadily worked in film in addition to her TV sitcom. Seen here at the premiere of her 2005 animated movie "Robots," she also starred in "Love Wrecked" (2005) and a comedy with Channing Tatum, "She's The Man" (2006).
In 2007, Bynes starred in a summer hit with the remake of "Hairspray," which also featured John Travolta, Allison Janney (seen here), Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and Nikki Blonsky.
While working on movies like "Sydney White," Bynes' personal life also took the spotlight. She was briefly linked to athlete and reality star Doug Reinhardt, here at a Los Angeles Lakers game in December 2008.
Bynes hadn't yet announced that she was through with acting when she walked the red carpet at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. She saved that revelation for the following June, only to announce that she'd "un-retired" by July.
Sure enough, Bynes was still acting: Her comedy with Emma Stone, "Easy A," arrived in September 2010. It is, however, Bynes' last credited film.
In April 2012, Bynes shocked fans when she was arrested on suspicion of DUI after getting into a fender-bender with police not long after her 26th birthday. Within days, she was accused of hitting another driver and then driving off.
Bynes, seen here in April 2012, again made headlines that June when she asked President Obama on Twitter to fire the officer who had arrested her. That August, she allegedly hit another vehicle, incurring a second hit-and-run charge.
By September, Bynes reportedly had her car impounded and was cited for driving on a suspended license. Despite her legal issues and other reports of oddball behavior -- like locking herself in a dressing room and taking off her top in spin class -- Bynes told People magazine at the time that she was "doing amazing" and had plans to move to New York to work on her fashion career.
In November 2012, Bynes, who became a regular celebrity snapped by paparazzi, announced that she's a 26-year-old retired multimillionaire.
Around that time, speculation about Bynes' state began to grow as she appeared to share photos from social media accounts that were credited to the star.
Early in 2013, Bynes generated plenty of press with a new look that included long blond hair and apparent cheek piercings. In March, she nearly brought down Twitter when she seemingly sent Drake a lewd tweet.
In April 2013, the same month that Bynes turned 27, the headlines about her behavior were popping up almost daily. The news typically revolved around her reported Twitter account, where self-portraits and unsettling statements were shared.
Between her tweets and her attention-grabbing appearances in NYC, it is easy to forget that Bynes also has legal issues. The 27-year-old was sentenced to three years of probation for her suspended license case in early May. On May 23, she was arrested in New York after allegedly tossing drug paraphernalia out of the window of her apartment.
Bynes and attorney Gerald Shargel arrive for a court appearance in New York on Tuesday, July 9. The 27-year-old actress is charged with reckless endangerment and attempting to tamper with physical evidence.
- Amanda Bynes' court appearance was brief Tuesday
- The actress faces three misdemeanor charges related to an alleged bong incident
- Bynes tweeted the police charges are "all lies"
(CNN) -- Actress Amanda Bynes stared with a blank, wide-eyed expression at reporters seated behind her in a New York courtroom Tuesday.
It was a brief court appearance for the 27-year-old Bynes, required only so the judge could set a date for another pretrial hearing. She faces three misdemeanor charges relating to an incident involving a bong allegedly tossed from her Manhattan apartment on May 23.
Bynes wore a waist-length aqua and blonde-colored wig from her unusual collection of hair pieces, a tank top, sweatpants and sneakers as she stood silently before the Manhattan Criminal Court judge.
She left with her lawyer after the judge set her next court hearing for September 26. A date for a trial, if necessary, has not been decided.
Amanda Bynes dons blue wig for court
Police charged Bynes with tampering with physical evidence, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of marijuana after they were called to her building in Manhattan's theater district. The building manager reported she was smoking an "illegal substance" in the lobby, police said.
Police knock down Bynes sex harassment claim
Bynes had headed back to her apartment by the time police arrived, but she let officers in when they knocked on the door, they said. Once inside, the officers noticed a bong and other marijuana paraphernalia sitting on a coffee table, which Bynes immediately started to throw out a window, police said.
Police charged her with tampering with physical evidence, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of marijuana. The endangerment stems from the possibility that the tossed paraphernalia could have hit someone below.
Bynes told followers on Twitter that the police account was "all lies." Her story is that she was "sexually harassed by one of the cops the night before last" -- the same police officer who, she wrote, ended up arresting her.
New York police later said an internal affairs investigation found no evidence of the sexual harassment claim.
Bynes has a DUI case pending in Southern California, while a pair of separate hit-and-run charges against her were dismissed late last year. She was sentenced to three years' probation for driving on a suspended license in May.
A young teenager when she burst on the scene as the lead in Nickelodeon's "The Amanda Show," Bynes also starred alongside Jennie Garth in the sitcom "What I Like About You." She later scored roles in movies, including "Hairspray" and "Easy A."
Amanda Bynes in trouble, again
CNN's Doug Ganley contributed to this report.
