Bynes, who can currently be seen opposite "Malcolm in the Middle" star Frankie Muniz in Universal Pictures' "Big Fat Liar," is one of the most talented teenagers working in Hollywood today. Discovered at the stand-up comedy club The Laugh Factory when she was only 10-years-old, Bynes got her start in Hollywood on the popular kid's sketch comedy show "All That." After just one season on the show, she found herself up against Tracey Ullman and Janeane Garofalo for the Cable Ace Award. However, it was Bynes' comedic timing and stage presence during one of her more well-known sketches, "Ask Ashley," that caught the attention of "All That" co-creator Dan Schneider, who not only discovered Bynes, but also wrote "Big Fat Liar."

"I remember the first major thing Amanda ever had to do was a skit called "Ask Ashley,"" Schneider recalls. "In short, it was five pages of dialogue straight into a lens. I couldn't do it, I don't think the cast of "Friends" could do it-- it's really hard. Gilda Radner could do it-- she could stare right into that lens and do four or five pages of dialogue and so can Amanda Bynes. I remember being so nervous for her cause there is only one camera. You make a mistake and you have to start over again. So if it's a four-minute bit and you do three minutes and 50 seconds and you blow it you got to go back. And she nailed it. 10-years-old, the size of a pot and she nails it."

After watching her for four years as a cast member on "All That," Schneider began to develop a show for Bynes that would allow the teenager to expand her comedic roots even further. Rather than being part of an ensemble cast, "The Amanda Show" allowed Bynes to be the star of her own variety show-- a role she was born to play. Now going into its third season, the show has not only earned Bynes two Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actress, but is also one of the most popular shows Nickelodeon's ever aired.

Like most actors though, Bynes doesn't want to be pigeonholed in Hollywood. Although she has appeared in over 18 commercials and guest starred on such popular adult TV shows like "Arli$$" and "The Drew Carey Show," Bynes wants to appeal more to an older audience. This had led the young actress to make a difficult decision in her life--to end her own show.

Despite the show's excellent ratings, the third season of "The Amanda Show" will be its final season so that she can star in a more mature sitcom on the popular teen network the WB. While the exact plot of the sitcom is still in its developmental stage, Bynes knows that the show will focus on her moving to New York to live with her older sister. Whether or not her audience follows her to a new network-- and whether or not older viewers will tune in-- remains to be seen.

"I figure if it's not meant to be successful then it won't be-- I'll just hope to get to do another movie," Bynes says. "If it's well written I think people will like it, but I guess that isn't always true cause "Freaks and Geeks" was a wonderful show and that didn't do very well. But maybe all the actors that were on that show have gotten better opportunities afterwards-- I don't know. Whatever is meant to happen will happen."

The show, which is being created by Schneider and "Friends" executive producer Wil Calhoun, will be a bit of a stretch for Bynes, who so far has made her career off of funny voices. Even in "Big Fat Liar" Bynes admits that, even though her character is pretty ordinary, there are some moments her wacky sketch comedy background shines through. However, the film does mark Bynes' first steps towards being perceived as more than just another stand-up comic-- a side she hopes fans will grow to accept with her new primetime show.

"I think I can be a character actress, but that's not all I'm limited to," Bynes says. "The shows I have been on were kind of based on Carol Burnett or Lucy type shows-- just getting yourself into crazy situations. Right now I'm hoping to do things that aren't so close to that because I have done that for several years."

While it may seem like she is focusing more on a career in television than in film by jumping from one show to the next, Bynes says that she definitely plans to pursue a career in the movie business one day. Although fans of hers would consider her a natural for something along the lines of "Saturday Night Live" or "MadTV," Bynes says that hosting one of the shows would be enough for her-- she doesn't plan on staying a TV comic her whole life.

"I've grown up always loving to perform and loving to make a fool of myself, but I don't want to get stuck in one genre. I don't want to be known just for comedy," she says. "Will Smith does a wonderful job of doing both comedy and drama-- even in serious roles he can bring some comedy to it. Cameron Diaz, Kevin Kline... I like those type of actors who can do both comedy and drama successfully."

"However," Bynes continues, "I'm not going to say no to anything until I read it and it disgusts me or I fall in love with it. I would rather have an open mind instead of saying 'oh, I won't do this' because then who knows, it might really touch me and it might really effect me."

Whether or not Bynes' new show on the WB opens up Hollywood's doors even further for this rising star, one thing is for certain-- she will always have the support and creative input of Dan Schneider. And with two successful TV shows, a movie deal and a new sitcom in the works, so far they've made a terrific team.

"I told Amanda something a couple years ago," Schneider says. "I guess her parents found out about a project I was working on that didn't involve her and they were a little hurt by it. I just said to them, 'guys, let me tell you something. If I could sign something right now that said I would work exclusively with Amanda Bynes and I knew that I would have work for the next 20 years, I would sign it so fast it would make your head spin.' I cannot say enough about her. I have probably spent 20,000 hours working with her and I have yet to see her in a bad mood. She's the real deal. There have been about five actresses in the last 40 years that people keep saying is the next Lucille Ball, and if there is anyone who is the next Lucy, it's Amanda Bynes."