News | Entertainment
8 Dec 2025 15:01
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
     08 Dec: Elizabeth Olsen "romanticised" about being an old lady living in a "beautiful British seaside town" when she was a teenager
     08 Dec: Emma Heming Willis dec lares Die Hard a Christmas movie
     08 Dec: Self Esteem's stance on having children has changed since she became a dog mom
     08 Dec: Sir Rod Stewart says Penny Lancaster has taught him to be more honest
     08 Dec: Simone Biles knew she wanted to marry Jonathan Owens after their first date
     08 Dec: Ben Affleck spent Thanksgiving with his ex wife
     06 Dec: Critics choice nominations 2026: Sinners scores 17 nods, One Battle After Another earns 14
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The father of Tauranga teen running sensation Sam Ruthe has paid tribute to the long-term record-holder his son has consigned to history More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A significant milestone for the country's wool sector, with an export deal signed More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    Multiple fires have broken out near Tongariro National Park 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Elizabeth Olsen "romanticised" about being an old lady living in a "beautiful British seaside town" when she was a teenager 14:50

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps will definitely be fielding a fast-bowling debutant in the second cricket test against the West Indies starting in Wellington on Wednesday 14:37

    Entertainment:
    Emma Heming Willis dec lares Die Hard a Christmas movie 14:20

    International:
    Oscar Piastri praised as future formula 1 world champion by rivals 14:17

    Basketball:
    Basketball's bearded wonder James Harden is now in the NBA's top 10 scorers of all time 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Self Esteem's stance on having children has changed since she became a dog mom 13:50

    Law and Order:
    A school caretaker who gave a 13-year-old drugs and had child abuse material on his phone - has lost an appeal against his sentence 13:47

    International:
    Russia increases recruitment of foreign fighters through targeted social media campaigns 13:37

    Health & Safety:
    Children from a Christchurch daycare where some were burnt by chemicals accidentally put on a waterslide - are back at the centre today 13:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd