Lena Dunham steps back from acting amid online body shaming
Lena Dunham gained fame for her role in the series "Girls," which aired from 2012 to 2017. Recently, she has been appearing less frequently on screen, mainly due to illness and body shaming she has experienced.
19 July 2024 20:33
Lena Dunham's role in the series "Girls," while appreciated, came with a price - the actress became the target of online hate and mockery. Despite the series "Girls" ending seven years ago, the artist still encounters offensive comments directed at her. The actress, director, and film producer stated that this has caused her to not want to appear on screen anymore in order not to provoke another wave of criticism.
Few haters knew, however, that Dunham suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes excessively stretchy skin and joint hypermobility. Additionally, the actress underwent a hysterectomy due to endometriosis, which caused her to gain weight.
Due to the hate, she quit acting in TV series
In an interview with "The New Yorker," the "Girls" star revealed that long-standing struggles with online hate have negatively affected her mental health. The 38-year-old not only boldly displayed her body in the series but also at public events, which made her the subject of controversy online.
Lena Dunham received a lot of support from feminist communities that appreciated her breaking taboos related to plus-size women's sexuality, but body shaming ultimately made her stop acting.
In the coming year, her series is set to premiere on one of the streaming platforms, where she describes her own life experiences. However, we will not see Dunham on screen in "Too Much" - another actress will play her.
"I don't want to relive what I experienced during the filming of the series 'Girls.' Physically, I'm not ready for someone to dissect my body again. It was a tough decision, not because I didn't want to hire Meg Stalter (the lead actress – ed.), because I knew I really wanted her, but because I had to admit that to myself," she admitted in an interview, quoted by zwierciadlo.pl.
In the interview with "The New Yorker," Dunham also admitted that over the years, she has understood what success means to her.
"I used to think that winning meant doing what you do without giving up and not caring about other people's opinions. I forgot that winning really means protecting yourself and doing what makes you productive. What makes me feel strong is my work. It's the only thing I want to do," she said.
