News | Entertainment
24 Nov 2025 19:14
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Lena Dunham admitted her privilege helped her find success in Hollywood

    The 'Girls' star was just 23 years old when HBO commissioned her hit comedy - which she created, wrote, directed and starred in while acting as ex ecutive producer - and she admitted her "career took off at a young age with relative ease" as she responded to backlash on social media


    In a series of tweets, she wrote: "Whenever I found out I'm trending, I have to immediately check if I'm alive! Then, I try and see if there's a constructive dialogue to have on Twitter. Often there isn't, but today there really WAS.

    "It actually wasn't a dialogue - it was just me agreeing that the Hollywood system is rigged in favour of white people and that my career took off at a young age with relative ease, ease I wasn't able to recognise because I also didn't know what privilege was."

    Lena, now 34, insisted she has learned a lot of lessons over the past decade, and she opened up on what she needs to do now to help bring about change.

    She added: "The past ten years have been a series of lessons. The lesson now? Sit down. Shut up, unless it's to advocate for change for Black people.

    "Listen. Make art in private for awhile- no one needs your book right now lady. Give reparations widely. Defund the police. Rinse & repeat. (sic)"

    The actress was responding after critics on social media brought up a past interview with The Hollywood Reporter in which she opened up about her lack of preparation and development when she signed with HBO for 'Girls', while others pointed to her family's wealth.

    Discussing her pitch to HBO - which she described as the worst "you've ever read" - Lena admitted she didn't even go into characters or a plot.

    She previously said: "I wrote HBO this one sheet. It was like a tone poem about millennial life. It doesn't mention a character, doesn't mention a plot. "'They're everything, they're nothing, they're everywhere, they're nowhere.'

    "I mean, it's the worst pitch you've ever read -- pretentious and horrifying -- but I remember writing it, sitting on the floor listening to Tegan and Sara in my underwear, being like, 'I'm a genius.' "

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     24 Nov: George Clooney has joked his twins will need "therapy" because of his Batman costume
     24 Nov: Tom Daley is teaming up with Ben Sherman for a range of hats and scarves
     24 Nov: Sir Brian May's stroke was a "wake-up call"
     24 Nov: Cynthia Erivo noted she and Ariana Grande have had to "come through some stuff" in their lives and work
     24 Nov: Timothée Chalamet believes Adam Sandler is one of the greatest actors of all time
     24 Nov: Pierce Brosnan would love to return to the James Bond franchise - admitting it will be "exciting to see what happens"
     23 Nov: Tori Kelly has given birth to her first child
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Confidence that Christchurch can deliver sellout Rugby League crowds More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Criticism of Air New Zealand's reliability - with strike action looming on December 8 More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    George Clooney has joked his twins will need "therapy" because of his Batman costume 19:08

    Politics:
    New rules aimed at protecting homeowners should be formally introduced next year 18:57

    Entertainment:
    Tom Daley is teaming up with Ben Sherman for a range of hats and scarves 18:38

    Accident and Emergency:
    A person's been seriously injured at work - in Opotiki in eastern Bay of Plenty 18:37

    Politics:
    Former British PM David Cameron says he has been treated for prostate cancer 18:17

    Entertainment:
    Sir Brian May's stroke was a "wake-up call" 18:08

    Cricket:
    Black Caps coach Rob Walter has shrugged off wicketkeeper concerns in his test side 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Cynthia Erivo noted she and Ariana Grande have had to "come through some stuff" in their lives and work 17:38

    Business:
    Criticism of Air New Zealand's reliability - with strike action looming on December 8 17:27

    Entertainment:
    Timothée Chalamet believes Adam Sandler is one of the greatest actors of all time 17:08


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd