Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham began her career with the independent film "Tiny Furniture," which earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay. A couple of years later, she created, wrote, and starred in the HBO television series "Girls" (2012–2017), earning her numerous Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe Awards. Dunham made her mark as a director for the same series, becoming the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series. Her influence in the entertainment sphere was recognized when she was included in the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world in 2013.

Beyond her work in film and television, Dunham is also a published author. Her first book, "Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's 'Learned'," released in 2014, secured the number two spot on The New York Times Best Seller list. Additionally, she co-created the feminist online newsletter Lenny Letter with Jenni Konner, which ran from 2015 to 2018. Dunham has also lent her voice to various projects, including the 2016 film "My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea," and has had guest roles in popular TV shows like "Scandal" and "The Simpsons."

More recently, Dunham wrote and directed the 2022 films "Sharp Stick" and "Catherine Called Birdy." She has also ventured into podcasting with "The C-Word Podcast," co-hosted with Alissa Bennett since 2019. Dunham's "Too Much" series premiered on Netflix in July 2025.

Also an activist and advocate for women’s rights, Dunham devotes an extensive amount of her time to philanthropic causes such as Planned Parenthood, Girls Write Now, and GEMS: Girls Education and Mentoring Services. She is also an advocate for the LGBTQ community.