Nickelodeon star Larisa Oleynik captured kids’ imaginations as a girl named Alex with superpowers on “The Secret World of Alex Mack.” As a teen idol, she made American youngsters all over wonder how awesome it would be to be a famous TV star. She, later on, stole hearts as Bianca Stratford in many other well-known and loved sitcoms, and her talent and charm made her a beloved teen star.
But Larisa wanted to know how it would be to be a regular teen in high school. She left the show after four seasons and went back to high school. Guess what? She got bored. Most kids could have told her that! Until this day, her departure from the series is not publicly known.
Larisa Now
Larisa Oleynik is now all grown up. She is a beautiful woman with a busy career. After high school, she returned to acting and landed roles in the cult classic "10 Things I Hate About You" and the hit show "3rd Rock from the Sun." But she wasn’t done with school. Oleynik finished her education at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York. She said it was “the best decision she ever made.”
A few years later, she was cast as a recurring character, Cynthia Cosgrove, on "Mad Men," which made her feel like she truly made it. She's continued to prove herself as a formidable force with roles in"Half-Life," "The Healing Powers of Dude," and "Trinkets." For now, she has been involved in various acting, producing, and other creative endeavors and she hasn't said her last word yet.
Amanda Bynes Then
Child actress Amanda Bynes hosted her very own comedy show, "The Amanda Show," on Nickelodeon when she was just 13 years old! She starred in "All That" when she was 10. Starting with commercials and stage work, the adorable actress became an influential teen star in the 90s, raking in Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards right and left.
In the 2000s, she starred in big blockbuster hits like"Big Fat Liar" and "She’s The Man." But in 2010, she abruptly ended her showbiz career with the tweet, " I don't love acting anymore, so I've stopped doing it.” She was a prominent figure, and young teenagers at that time saw her as someone to look up to and were very much influenced by, but not anymore.
Amanda Now
Amanda sadly dealt with various substance abuse problems for several years after her untimely retirement. However, she started to get her life back on track! In an interview with "Paper Magazine" in 2018, she announced her intention to start a designer clothing label and get back into acting. She also announced her engagement on Instagram in February 2020 to Paul Michael.
Sadly the two broke it off in 2021, and although we really want to see the two back in each other's arms, we can't see that happening soon. Unlike many other child stars, the personal challenges Amanda Bynes faced and the obstacles in life that surprisingly approached her draw her away from the industry instead of making her want it more.
Victoria Justice Then
Victoria Justice was only eight years old when she decided to start a career in showbiz. Her family moved out to Hollywood from Florida. Immediately she started modeling and doing commercials. The half-Puerto Rican beauty got her foot in the door by starring on Nickelodeon’s "Zoey 101" in 2005 when she was just 12.
That led to her biggest gig as Tori Vega on the Nick sitcom "Victorious." Starring alongside(the now-famous pop icon) Ariana Grande, Victoria tried her hand at a musical act. Three of the songs from the "Victorious" soundtrack hit the charts. She seemed set for a stellar solo career, but sadly her debut track tanked.