“I literally couldn’t stand my appearance." The role that led Amanda Bynes to quit acting.

It’s been eight years since she announced her shock retirement from acting, and several months since she posted her last tweet.

And now, Amanda Bynes has graduated from Los Angeles-based Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, posting a photo from her graduation this week.

FIDM graduate 2019 #fidmgraduation pic.twitter.com/KdFI5dPOdK

— amanda bynes (@amandabynes) June 25, 2019

It’s her first tweet since November 2018, when she posted an image from a photo shoot for Paper Magazine.

After years of shunning the public eye, the profile piece saw her open up about the events that led to her dramatic downward spiral.

In a 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 4-6 months because I didn’t like how I looked when I was a boy,” Bynes told Paper Magazine.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#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 unexpectedly 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.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

“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 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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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.