It’s been almost a decade since Amanda Bynes announced her shock retirement from acting.

One day, she was one of Hollywood’s biggest young stars, and the next, lost down the dark path so many other child stars take.

Now, after years of shunning the public eye, the 33-year-old has opened up about her private life.

Read: In 2002, Amanda Bynes was the world’s biggest child star. By 2012, it all came crashing down.

Earlier this year, the now 33-year-old announced her engagement to her boyfriend of a few months, Paul Michael, who she met while attending Alcoholics Anonymous.

Sharing the news on Instagram, Bynes wrote: “Engaged to tha love of my life.”

In early March, however, Michael shared that the couple's relationship was over.

"We did," Michael said, confirming the split to In Touch. "I love her though, she's my best friend."

According to Us Weekly, Bynes was struggling following the sudden break-up.

"Amanda is really upset about it and not taking it well at all," a source told the publication.

But just a week after the pair announced their split, the pair's relationship was back on again and they announced that they were expecting their first child together.

"Baby on board!" Bynes wrote, sharing her ultrasound photo on Instagram, which she has since removed.

"It's true, Amanda is pregnant. She's very, very early. Her parents know," a source told E! at the time.

 

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A post shared by Amanda Bynes (@amandabynesreal) on Sep 10, 2019 at 6:36pm PDT

Speaking to Fox News this week, Bynes' legal representative, David Esquibias, has shot down reports that the former actress is pregnant.

"Amanda is not pregnant and she is not residing in a sober living facility," the lawyer said.

"She is sheltering in a safe location and is doing very well."

In late December, Bynes shared an Instagram photo of her new tattoo – a small heart on her left cheek.

Reporting on the news at the time, E! claimed that Bynes had been living in a sober living community for several months.

"She hasn't had a recent relapse and is not doing drugs or alcohol," a source told the publication.

"She is focused on her sobriety right now and committed to it and she feels really good about it," they added.

"She's doing really well."

 

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A post shared by Amanda Bynes (@amandabynesreal) on Dec 30, 2019 at 8:58pm PST

In late 2018, an interview with Paper Magazine saw Bynes open up about the events that led to her dramatic downward spiral.

In the rare interview, Bynes spoke about her plans to return to acting, her struggles with drug addiction and life in the public eye.

After skyrocketing to fame with her own Nickelodeon children's comedy program The Amanda Show in 1999, Bynes soon went on to star in films.

But although many remember Bynes for her role in the 2006 film She's The Man alongside Channing Tatum, the 32-year-old doesn't look back on the film fondly.

Instead, seeing herself portrayed as a man sent her into a "deep depression".

"When the movie came out and I saw it, I went into a deep depression for four to six months because I didn't like how I looked when I was a boy," Bynes told Paper Magazine.

 

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#BreaktheInternet: Amanda Bynes. Having spent years out of the spotlight, Bynes steps back in and opens up about her tumultuous — and remarkable — journey. #linkinbio Story by @abbyschreiber28 Photos by @daniellelevitt Art Direction by @dwndwntwn Styling by @neverhavetotweet Hair by @samiknighthair Makeup by @edwardcruzmakeup Set Design by @_coopervasquez_ Fashion Direction: @miaasolkin

A post shared by Paper Magazine (@papermagazine) on Nov 26, 2018 at 1:36pm PST

"I've never told anyone that," she added.

"It just really put me into a funk."

Although Bynes had a better experience with the film Hairspray, her role in Easy A in 2010 ultimately convinced her to retire from acting at just 24 years old.

"I literally couldn't stand my appearance in that movie and I didn't like my performance," Bynes told the publication.

"I was absolutely convinced I needed to stop acting after seeing it," she continued.

"I was high on marijuana when I saw that but for some reason it really started to affect me... I was convinced that I should never be on camera again and I officially retired on Twitter, which was, you know, also stupid."

"Being an actress isn't as fun as it may seem," the then 24-year-old tweeted after Easy A premiered. "If I don't love something any more I stop doing it... I know 24 is a young age to retire, but you heard it here first – I've retired."

 

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"I have no fear of the future. I've been through the worst and came out the other end and survived it so I just feel like it's only up from here." #amandabynes #breaktheinternet #linkinbio

A post shared by Paper Magazine (@papermagazine) on Nov 26, 2018 at 2:09pm PST

Shortly after announcing her retirement, Bynes' public downfall began.

The year of 2012 for the actress was defined by a series of arrests – drink driving, two hit-and-runs and driving on a suspended licence.

And in now-deleted tweets, Bynes spoke obsessively of sex, plastic surgery and even made racist remarks about Rihanna.

Speaking to Paper Magazine about her infamous tweets, Bynes admitted that she feels ashamed about what she said.

"I was just stuck at home, getting high, watching TV and tweeting," Bynes said.

"I'm really ashamed and embarrassed with the things I said. I can't turn back time but if I could, I would. And I'm so sorry to whoever I hurt and whoever I lied about because it truly eats away at me."

Bynes also opened up to the publication about her experience with drug abuse.

Although Bynes was never a big drinker, she began smoking marijuana at 16 years old.

 

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Amanda, please! #breaktheinternet

A post shared by Paper Magazine (@papermagazine) on Nov 26, 2018 at 3:03pm PST

"Later on it progressed to doing molly and ecstasy," Bynes admitted.

She also confessed in the interview to abusing Adderall, a prescription drug commonly used to treat ADHD.

Now, Bynes is almost five years sober.

The former actress obtained her Bachelor's degree in the hopes of designing her own clothing line in the future.

The 33-year-old also plans to re-enter the acting business.

"I have no fear of the future," Bynes said in the Paper Magazine interview.

"I've been through the worst and came out the other end and survived it so I just feel like it's only up from here."

In 2017, Amanda Bynes gave her first interview in four years.

Feature Image: Instagram / @amandabynesreal

This post was originally published on November 27, 2018, and updated on May 6, 2020.

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