Amanda originally read for the role of malicious queen bee Regina George in the 2004 film Mean Girls, and while director Mark Waters said that she did a great job in the audition, he didn't feel that for this particular character, she would be the best candidate to go opposite of Lindsay Lohan. However, the casting crew liked Amanda so much that they chose her to play ditzy Karen Smith. (edit) Amanda originally auditioned for the title role on Veronica Mars but lost the place to Kristen Bell. Instead of playing Veronica she was offered the role of Lilly, Veronica's dead bestfriend. She was so popular in this role she was brought back more often than ever expected. (edit) Amanda appeared on the stage in The Wind in the Willows, A Christmas Carol, Grease and Hearts Aflame: An Evening of Love and Hate Letters. (edit) With her mother, Amanda made several trips to New York for casting calls and photo shoots. (edit) Amanda began her modeling career at the age of 11. (edit) In the 2003, Amanda made her movie debut in Mean Girls. (edit) Amanda was going to attend Fordham University in New York, but decided to postpone it to film Mean Girls. (edit) Amanda is good friends with Mean Girls co-star Lindsay Lohan. (edit) Amanda collects different types of jeans. (edit) Amanda appeared on the cover of three Francine Pascal books. (edit) Amanda originally tried out for the part of Regina in Mean Girls, but the producers thought she would be better as Karen. (edit) Amanda appeared as an extra on CBS's Guiding Light. (edit)

Amanda: I do feel like I've grown up. Living by yourself in two cities, having a relationship, the Hollywood stuff. It forces you to deal with things as an adult. (edit) Amanda: It sucks because I don't know what I'm doing next. It'll probably be guest-star work, little jobs that you do for a week, which is cool. But it's just kind of annoying to have to audition so much right now. (edit) Amanda: It's a brilliant film, but I don't like the way I did my part, I didn't believe myself. Plus, I thought I looked hideous. (edit) Amanda: I just love to act and be on the set. I want to make acting my life and get really good roles. (edit) Amanda: I like all the men Laura Linney gets to act with. She is such a bitch. Not really. (edit) Amanda: I'm not really into clubbing, I like to go to parties after events, and those do end up at clubs or bars. But in my free time I go grocery shopping or to the gym, or I talk on the phone. (edit) Amanda: At 11 I have a crush on Leonardo DiCaprio. Actually, it was not a crush. It was an obsession! I was also obsessed with Richard Dean Anderson from MacGyver and Indiana Jones. (edit) Amanda: I'll probably change my mind 15 times before then. (edit) Amanda: I'm just myself but funnier, more outgoing. (edit) Amanda: I'd really love to study meteorology. I find the weather fascinating. But I don't know... (edit) Amanda: I have jeans with holes in them and I have nice jeans. I have casual and I have dressy jeans. I've got all kinds. (edit) Amanda: I love low-rise, boot-cut, perfect fitting jeans. (edit) Amanda: Jeans are just so sexy, there's something about them that turns me on, you know? (edit) Amanda: I collect jeans. I don't care how expensive they are. (edit) Amanda: Unless you don't know the girl, there's a vibe in the beginning, you know? There's just this competition. (edit) Amanda: I would ask, like, stupid questions, and I wouldn't know why I asked them. (edit) Amanda: You don't have to listen to those mean girls. They're just there to make you upset and make you feel bad about yourself. And you know, inside, they feel bad about themselves too. But they don't wanna admit it to anybody. (edit) Amanda: Tina's voice was so strong in the script, she wrote characters that were already so well defined and different from each other that the lines were never blurred. It was really cool. (edit) Amanda: They should know first of all that it's not worth fighting, it's not worth being the mean girls' friend. (edit) Amanda: My friends will tell me that I was always the airhead. (edit) Amanda: You know, I felt a little Jaime Pressly on that. (edit) Amanda: She's the dumb one of the group. There's always a dumb one. I was always kind of the dumb one of my group, you know? (edit) Amanda: Girls just... I don't know. There's just this vibe sometimes. (edit) Amanda: Mark Waters focused on us being real but being as funny as possible, which is such a great combination. (edit) Amanda: People do judge you, and there are stupid rivalries. You have to wear the right things, because there are all these girls my age competing for the same roles. They're judging me and I'm judging them. I try not to be that way, but sometimes I am. (edit)