News | Entertainment
26 Feb 2026 6:00
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.' "

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     25 Feb: Matthew Lillard admits his fashion sense is "still stuck in 2000"
     25 Feb: Bonnie Blue is pregnant following her recent "breeding mission"
     25 Feb: Dennis Quaid thinks Donald Trump is "very funny" and "really genuine"
     25 Feb: Daniel Radcliffe admits it feels "surreal" seeing the new child stars stepping into the Harry Potter franchise
     25 Feb: Matthew Lillard was convinced he'd never work again during his "darkest days"
     25 Feb: The BBC has apologised for a racial slur shouted during the 2026 BAFTAs ceremony
     25 Feb: David Harbour was part of Millie Bobby Brown's birthday celebrations
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Wallace Sititi is back for the Chiefs for their Super Rugby final rematch against the Crusaders in Hamilton on Saturday More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Meridian says mother nature has come to party and helped turn their finances around More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    The family of a Christchurch mother says they will be haunted by her murder 5:47

    Living & Travel:
    Papatoetoe is the latest Auckland suburb to be hit with fruit and veggie restrictions, as another invasive fruitfly is detected 5:27

    Cricket:
    New Zealand have recovered from 84 for six in the 13th over to post 168 for seven in their super eight match against Sri Lanka at cricket's T20 World Cup in Colombo 5:07

    Environment:
    Fire crews will be back working to extinguish a large grass fire in Central Otago's Springvale this morning 4:37

    Entertainment:
    Matthew Lillard admits his fashion sense is "still stuck in 2000" 21:51

    Entertainment:
    Bonnie Blue is pregnant following her recent "breeding mission" 21:21

    International:
    President Donald Trump's State of the Union adress in detail 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Dennis Quaid thinks Donald Trump is "very funny" and "really genuine" 20:51

    International:
    Standout moments from Donald Trump's State of the Union speech 20:37

    Entertainment:
    Daniel Radcliffe admits it feels "surreal" seeing the new child stars stepping into the Harry Potter franchise 20:21


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd