Lena Dunham is practically synonymous with New York City. The acclaimed actress, writer, and director gained prominence with her award-winning, semi-autobiographical series *Girls*, chronicling the lives of four twenty-something women navigating love, life, and friendship in the Big Apple.
However, her latest endeavor, a Netflix romantic comedy loosely inspired by her recent years, unfolds across the Atlantic.
*Too Much* centers on Jessica (Megan Stalter), who relocates from New York to London following a breakup and subsequently falls for Felix (Will Sharpe), a punk musician.
Mirroring Dunham’s own move to London in 2021, Jessica quickly familiarizes herself with the quintessential aspects of British culture: universal adoration for Paddington Bear, the fiercely debated status of Jaffa Cakes (categorically biscuits), and the realization that a “housing estate” does not equate to the sprawling grounds of a grand manor.
Dunham shared with the BBC that while *Too Much* shares “superficial similarities” with her life and remains “about 5% autobiographical,” she never envisioned herself embodying the show’s protagonist in the same vein as her role in *Girls*.
“I didn’t consider Jessica to be me—she’s inspired by my life but is her own character and was written with Megan in mind,” she stated.
Megan Stalter notes that *Girls* “was all about sex and *Too Much* is about falling in love,” a sentiment echoed by Dunham regarding the show’s thematic focus.
Another compelling reason for Dunham’s decision to step back from the spotlight stems from the intense scrutiny of her body during the filming of *Girls* in her twenties. As she revealed to *The New Yorker* last year, she “was not up for having my body dissected again.”
She elaborates that the experience of body shaming contributed to her move towards behind-the-camera roles. “Just being perceived was overwhelming,” she explains.
In recent years, Dunham has concentrated on writing projects that do not position her as a central on-screen presence.
While she acknowledges societal progress towards greater body positivity, she believes that contemporary culture remains “so deeply fatphobic, misogynistic, racist and ageist and that informs our dynamic with our body.”
The 39-year-old has been candid about her health challenges, particularly her battle with endometriosis, which led to a hysterectomy at age 31.
When asked about how her relationship with her body has evolved since then, she says she’s cultivated a newfound appreciation for her physical self.
“I’ve been able to have a relationship with my body that exists outside of the cultural pressures and I feel lucky for that.”
In addition to reflecting on her shifting self-perception, Dunham acknowledges the valuable lessons she’s learned since her twenties.
Having been in the public eye for over a decade, the actress has navigated her share of controversies.
In 2017, she defended *Girls* writer Murray Miller when he faced allegations of sexual assault. Dunham later issued an apology, acknowledging that it was “absolutely the wrong time” to offer her perspective. Miller vehemently denied the accusations, and no charges were filed.
She also apologized for a “distasteful joke” she made on a podcast, expressing regret for saying she wished she had experienced an abortion while discussing the procedure in the United States.
“I thought, back then, it was important to just keep going and be tough no matter what happened,” she reflects.
“I was so focused on work and not letting any of the noise in but I wish I had allowed myself to take more time and space. We all have to acknowledge our own complexities and sensitivities but it’s hard to wrap your head around that when you’re in your 20s.”
Dunham’s new 10-episode series stars *Hacks* actor Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe, best known for playing Ethan Spiller in *The White Lotus* and films such as *A Real Pain*.
Sharpe, 38, says he relates to the challenges his character faces, as “everyone carries baggage from their previous relationship” and feels vulnerable when they enter a new one.
Stalter relates to her character too. The 34-year-old says she often “felt like she was too much” in her 20s but with time, has come to be proud of her who she is.
Written with Dunham’s husband, musician Luis Felber, *Too Much* focuses on the evolution of one romantic relationship.
It’s refreshing in its realness—from serious conversations between Jessica and Felix to the fact Jessica’s media salary stretches to a housing estate in east London rather than a Bridget Jones-esque flat in Borough Market.
I ask Dunham if she has any dating tips for women in their 20s, given she’s been through the rollercoaster of trying to find a life partner.
She says the concept of dating has changed over the years, and back in the late noughties, it was “considered a last resort or a strange thing to meet someone online”.
Looking back, Dunham wishes she would have allowed herself to understand what she really wanted rather than just seeing the cultural expectations that were placed on her.
“If I was letting myself understand my own desire, my 20s would have looked really different romantically.”
*Too Much* is released on Netflix on 10 July.
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