‘Easy A’ director Will Gluck says Amanda Bynes found ‘Easy A’ supporting role tough opposite Emma Stone

Easy A director Will Gluck has reflected on Amanda Bynes’ experience making the 2010 teen comedy, suggesting it may have been difficult for the former child star to take a supporting role opposite Emma Stone.

Speaking on the Plus One podcast with Jess Lucero, Gluck said Bynes had already become a major star before joining the film, while Stone was emerging as its lead performer.

“She was a huge star and then she had to play, like, a second banana to Emma,” Gluck said, describing the situation as “kind of tough for her”. He nevertheless praised Bynes’ performance, adding that she was great in the film.

Bynes played Marianne Bryant, a devout Christian student who becomes one of the central figures in the school drama surrounding Stone’s character, Olive Penderghast. The film, released in 2010, became a notable entry in the teen comedy genre and helped strengthen Stone’s career.

Gluck also emphasised that Bynes was professional throughout production. He recalled that she did not audition for the role, explaining that they had met beforehand and spent time getting to know each other.

“She was 100 percent a pro,” he said, adding that he was shocked by the difficulties Bynes experienced after leaving acting. Gluck said people later asked whether he had noticed warning signs while working with her, but he recalled seeing nothing unusual on set.

Easy A ultimately became Bynes’ final film appearance. She stepped away from acting shortly after its release and later spoke publicly about her struggles and the impact of watching her performance in the movie.

In a 2018 interview with Paper magazine, Bynes said she disliked her appearance and acting in the film, describing the experience of watching it as a turning point in her decision to stop acting.

Bynes later focused on her personal well-being and other creative interests. Her experience has continued to draw public attention, while Gluck’s recollections offer a glimpse into her time on the set of the comedy.