News | Entertainment
28 Feb 2026 8:10
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
     28 Feb: Lupita Nyong'o has "over 50" uterine fibroids
     28 Feb: Hilary Duff has admitted she "intentionally" gatecrashed the premiere of her "childhood nemesis" Lindsay Lohan's movie Freaky Friday
     28 Feb: Christian Bale appears to have confirmed he will join the cast of Heat 2
     28 Feb: Barbra Streisand has paid tribute to Jennifer Aniston following the actress' recent birthday and her growing relationship with Jim Curtis
     27 Feb: Drew Barrymore travels down "memory lane" when looking at pictures of herself from her 1990s heyday
     27 Feb: Cruz Beckham's 21st birthday celebrations have gone on for a week
     27 Feb: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at the World Health Organisation's country office in Amman
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    It's been a hot start from the Aussies to open round three of Super Rugby More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Commerce Commission has issued guidance on changes to gift card rules More...



     Today's News

    Living & Travel:
    Efforts are underway to remove pests and restore habitats for North Island Brown kiwi on Kawau Island, north of Auckland - after a new survey found no chicks or juveniles 8:06

    Cricket:
    Some late innings bowling blips have cost New Zealand smooth passage to the T20 World Cup semi-finals in Sri Lanka 7:57

    Golf:
    Kiwi amateur Yuki Miya is the one to catch after two rounds of the New Zealand Golf Open in Central Otago 7:57

    Politics:
    Gaza healthcare system under strain as Israel blocks Doctors Without Borders and other aid groups 7:56

    Rugby:
    It's been a hot start from the Aussies to open round three of Super Rugby 7:56

    Entertainment:
    Lupita Nyong'o has "over 50" uterine fibroids 7:51

    Accident and Emergency:
    A tram has derailed in Milan in Italy - killing one person and injuring almost 40 others 7:46

    Politics:
    Bill Clinton tells congressional committee he had 'no idea' about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes 7:37

    Rugby:
    Frustration for the Highlanders following a 31-14 Super Rugby loss to the Reds in Brisbane 7:26

    Entertainment:
    Hilary Duff has admitted she "intentionally" gatecrashed the premiere of her "childhood nemesis" Lindsay Lohan's movie Freaky Friday 7:21


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd