Nikki Blonsky: 'There's nothing wrong with Amanda Bynes, leave her alone'

Actress Nikki Blonsky is urging media outlets to leave her Hairspray co-star Amanda Bynes alone, insisting she's in regular contact with the former child star - and she's not going mad.

Blonsky has spoken out to defend her pal just days after celebrity blogger Perez Hilton urged Bynes' parents to do whatever they needed to do to have their daughter committed following a series of bizarre antics, which have put his former friend in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Blonsky insists the actress is not heading for a breakdown, as has been suggested, stating, "She's the same Amanda I met working on Hairspray. She's happy. I don't think that's a breakdown, but a breakthrough. I back Amanda 100 per cent."

She tells Life & Style magazine, "I don't think there is any (cause for) concern on anybody's part. She is just living her life and doing what she wants to do and I totally support that for her.

"I think it was more like an episode of events that maybe people are finding her different for, because she has been so cookie-cutter and so perfect over the years."

Among the 'events' that have surprised many over the past 18 months are a string of traffic offenses in Los Angeles, including an alleged collision with a police car, and a series of odd tweets and posted photographs and videos. Bynes has also pierced her cheeks and often takes to the streets of New York City with an item of clothing over her head.