There is currently about seven different versions of this article saved in my computer. This is mostly because I wanted this article to appropriately show my reverence for the one Lena Dunham, but reel in my fangirl feelings about everything Girls. I'm trying to go for "journalistic" integrity here. Of course, this will undoubtably fail.
I'm sure at this point you've seen scores of articles all around the internet about Lena and the new HBO show Girls. If you haven't, then you are clearly a part of some weird underground internet that I'm not sure I want to know about. But just in case: Girls is a new show premiering this Sunday on HBO. Written and directed by Lena (who also stars) and produced by Judd Apatow, the show is already receiving insane critical and audience acclaim. I can attest to this- it is perhaps one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life. To put it in even more unrefined way: No homo but I'm in love with Lena Dunham.
And so is everyone, it seems. When I jumped on a call with Lena and several other journalists, everyone wanted to impress her, make her like them. Of course, Ms. Dunham was just as sweet, smart and sarcastic that you want her to be.
So yeah, the interview-
Emily: Nice to meet you, I'm a huge fan. I'm also 24 and living in Brooklyn... [ed note: see what I mean about the fangirlling?]
Oh, amazing.
Yes. So I mean obviously Girls is a really personal thing for me and I'm sure as well for you. How do you differ from your character of Hannah and is there anything personally off limits that you would not have on the show?
I mean, you know, there's definitely stuff that Hannah's done in her – in her ignorance all be it good-hearted way that I never ever undertake in my life. I like to think I'm one year old and slightly wiser. But she – there is a lot of me in her in everything that I do. You know, I'm not like an actress with a tremendous range so there has to be some personal element sort of driving each performance moment and each writing moment.
So, but yes, there's definitely, I mean I don't think – I don't think we have any
limits on the show besides our own tastes and what feels honest to us.
How do you feel about the buzz that Girls is creating, you know, kind of a new feminist movement in the media and television?
I mean that's such an exciting concept just because I think that if there's
something awesome about any feminist dialogue that's erupting, I think it's
such a mistake to think that that – that conversation is over in this country or
anywhere or on this planet. I mean I definitely have never claimed to be sort
of the voice of the current woman.
I think my experience will make sense to some women, and not to others
because, you know, we're all – because we're all unique snowflakes. But that
being said, I think that my, you know, if it sparks any kind of dialogue about
women and what it feels like to be a woman at the current cultural moment,
then that's exciting to me even if I kind of never claimed to be able to
represent anybody like, you know, sexually or emotionally or anything.
I was actually just wondering how you ended up choosing the cast for
Girls? I know you have a big influence on the show. What did you [and Judd Apatow] talk about when you casted these really
amazing young actresses?
I mean I think our goal was to just kind of show a cool cross-section of girls who felt like they would know each and who would be close but have enough varying viewpoints for it to really feel like we're getting four different perspectives on what life at this time would be like. I wrote Jemima Kirk's role with her in mind – she was in my first version. She was in Tiny Furniture and we've known each other since high school. And then Allison [Williams] and Zosia [Mamet], they were people who just have wowed me in audition contacts and it was amazing just to see people who I was so inspired by– just kind of walk into a room and amaze me like that.
Did you guys do any kind of workshops to kind of create the
chemistry that we see on screen or did you guys just fall into it?
We definitely spent a lot of time together just chatting and hanging out. We did a couple of days of improv but it was pretty amazing how natural it felt and how immediate it was.
Working with Judd, do you find that you disagree with him – like how is he as a collaborator in this process for you?
We're pretty connected, Judd and I. We have a pretty good – we have a pretty
good repoire, and when we do disagree I think it's really healthy disagreements where we really like debate things and it makes them better. I mean he's so – he's such a great mix of respectful and powerful, and so I've learned so much from him. And usually if he's telling me something emphatically I believe it.
Thank you!
So maybe I didn't get a chance to prove to her that we'd be BFFs if we could only hang out, but with all the press this girl's doing, I figure it was time to bow out (especially because everyone else had to ask their questions too). All I can tell you guys is that you will not be disappointed in your new TV heroine and you should most definitely tune in this Sunday at 10:30 PM on HBO.
Come back to Ology for more Girls news/recaps!
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