Directing · New York, New York, USA · Born May 13, 1986
Lena Dunham (/ˈliːnə ˈdʌnəm/; born May 13, 1986) is an American writer, director, actress, and producer. She is the creator, writer, and star of the HBO television series Girls (2012–2017), for which she received several Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe Awards. Dunham also directed several episodes of Girls and became the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series. She started her career writing, directing, and starring in her semi-autobiographical independent film Tiny Furniture (2010), for which she won an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay. She has since written and directed the 2022 films Sharp Stick and Catherine Called Birdy. In 2013, Dunham was included in the annual Time100 list of the most influential people in the world. In 2014, Dunham released her first book, Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's "Learned". In 2015, along with Girls showrunner Jenni Konner, Dunham created the publication Lenny Letter, a feminist online newsletter. The publication ran for three years before its discontinuation in late 2018. Dunham briefly appeared in films such as Supporting Characters, This Is 40 (2012), and Happy Christmas (2014). She voiced Mary in the 2016 film My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Aside from Girls, she has played guest roles on television in Scandal and The Simpsons (both 2015). In 2017, she portrayed Valerie Solanas in American Horror Story: Cult. Dunham's work and her outspoken presence on social media and in interviews have attracted significant controversy, praise, criticism, and media scrutiny throughout her career.
House of Criticism
2026
MovieI Wish You All the Best
2025
as Ms. Lyons
TVToo Much
2025
as Nora South
TVGood Hang with Amy Poehler
2025
MovieGavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell
2025
as Self
MovieTreasure
2024
as Ruth
MovieJudy Blume Forever
2023
as Self
MovieSharp Stick
2022
as Heather
MovieHoneydew
2021
as Delilah
MovieMusic
2021
as Administrator on Phone with Zu (voice)
MovieThe Stand In
2020
as Lisa
MovieMiranda July: Where it Began
2020
as Herself
TVVisible: Out on Television
2020
as Self
TVA Little Late with Lilly Singh
2019
as Self
TVThe Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
MovieOnce Upon a Time... in Hollywood
2019
as 'Gypsy'
MovieThis Changes Everything
2019
as Self
MovieHalf the Picture
2018
as Self
MovieA Goodbye to Girls
2017
as Self
Movie100 Years
2017
as Narrator (voice)
MovieMy Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea
2016
as Mary (voice)
MovieMy Art
2016
as Meryl
MovieDon't Think Twice
2016
as Self
MovieSky
2016
as Billie
MovieNorman Lear: Just Another Version of You
2016
as Self
MovieTaylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live
2015
as Self - Special Guest
MovieEverything Is Copy
2015
as Self
TVClose Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015
as Self
Movie7 Days in Hell
2015
as Lanny Denver
TVThank You and Sorry
2015
TVTravel Man: 48 Hours in...
2015
as Self - Guest
TVThe Late Late Show with James Corden
2015
as Self
MovieIt's Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise
2015
as Self
MovieHappy Christmas
2014
as Carson
MovieThis Is Comedy
2014
as Herself
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self
MovieCover Girl
2014
as Self
MovieSupporting Characters
2013
as Alexa
MovieThis Is 40
2012
as Cat
MovieSide by Side
2012
as Self
TVGirls
2012
as Hannah Horvath
TVScandal
2012
as Susanne Thomas
TVFinding Your Roots
2012
MovieThe Innkeepers
2012
as Barista
TVBilly on the Street
2011
as Self
TVAmerican Horror Story
2011
as Valerie Solanas
TVMildred Pierce
2011
as Nurse 1
MoviePressPausePlay
2011
as Self
MovieTiny Furniture
2010
as Aura
TVConan
2010
as Self
MovieGabi on the Roof in July
2010
as Colby
MovieThe House of the Devil
2009
as 911 Operator (voice)
MovieFamily Tree
2009
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
The Viewer
2009
as The Voice
MovieCreative Nonfiction
2009
as Ella
TVRuPaul's Drag Race
2009
as Self - Guest Judge
TVThe Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
MovieDealing
2007
as Georgia
MovieHooker on Campus
2007
as Hooker
MovieThe Fountain
2007
MovieOpen the Door
2007
MoviePressure
2006
TVThe Colbert Report
2005
TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
TVThe View
1997
as Self
TVThe Daily Show
1996
as Self
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Candace (voice)
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host
