Lena Dunham
Biography
Lena Dunham is an American writer, director, actress, and producer. She was born on May 13, 1986, in New York, USA. Dunham is the creator, writer, and star of the HBO television series Girls. She has also directed several episodes of Girls, becoming the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series. Dunham started her career writing, directing, and starring in her semi-autobiographical independent film Tiny Furniture. She has since written and directed the films Sharp Stick and Ca. Dunham has received several Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe Awards for her work on Girls.
Career overview
Lena Dunham is an American writer, director, and actress. She started her career writing, directing, and starring in her semi-autobiographical independent film Tiny Furniture. The film, released in 2010, earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.
Dunham went on to create, write, and star in the HBO television series Girls, which aired from 2012 to 2017. During her time on the show, she directed several episodes and became the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series. This achievement highlights her skill and dedication to her craft.
In addition to her work on Girls, Dunham has also directed two films, Sharp Stick and Ca, both released in 2022. Her experience and versatility as a director have allowed her to excel in both television and film, making her a notable figure in the industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
129 titles- Notice Me (2026) Producer
- Choked (2026) Executive Producer
- House of Criticism (2026)
- Too Much (2025) as Nora South
- Too Much (2025) Executive Producer
- Too Much (2025) Writer
- Too Much (2025) Director
- Too Much (2025) Creator
- Good Hang with Amy Poehler (2025)
- Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell (2025) as Self
- I Wish You All the Best (2025) as Ms. Lyons
- Treasure (2024) as Ruth
- Treasure (2024) Executive Producer
- Judy Blume Forever (2023) as Self
- Catherine Called Birdy (2022) Executive Producer
- Catherine Called Birdy (2022) Director
- Catherine Called Birdy (2022) Screenplay
- Sharp Stick (2022) as Heather
- Sharp Stick (2022) Screenplay
- Sharp Stick (2022) Director
- Sharp Stick (2022) Producer
- Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste (2022) Executive Producer
- Genera+ion (2021) Executive Producer
- Genera+ion (2021) Writer
- Music (2021) as Administrator on Phone with Zu (voice)
- Honeydew (2021) as Delilah
- Industry (2020) Director
- Industry (2020) Executive Producer
- Visible: Out on Television (2020) as Self
- The Stand In (2020) as Lisa
- Memory Xperiment: Kathy Acker (2020) Thanks
- Who Will You Be? (2020) Director
- Miranda July: Where it Began (2020) as Herself
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019) as 'Gypsy'
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh (2019) as Self
- This Changes Everything (2019) as Self
- Camping (2018) Executive Producer
- Camping (2018) Writer
- Camping (2018) Creator
- Half the Picture (2018) as Self
- 100 Years (2017) as Narrator (voice)
- 100 Years (2017) Producer
- 100 Years (2017) Director
- A Goodbye to Girls (2017) as Self
- Tokyo Project (2017) Executive Producer
- Don't Think Twice (2016) as Self
- Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016) as Self
- My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea (2016) as Mary (voice)
- Sky (2016) as Billie
- My Art (2016) as Meryl
- Suited (2016) Producer
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self - Guest
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015) as Self - Guest
- 7 Days in Hell (2015) as Lanny Denver
- Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live (2015) as Self - Special Guest
- Everything Is Copy (2015) as Self
- Thank You and Sorry (2015)
- It's Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- The One I Love (2014) Thanks
- Happy Christmas (2014) as Carson
- This Is Comedy (2014) as Herself
- Cover Girl (2014) as Self
- Cover Girl (2014) Writer
- Best Friends (2013) Director
- Best Friends (2013) Writer
- Supporting Characters (2013) as Alexa
- Choose You (2013) Writer
- Scandal (2012) as Susanne Thomas
- Girls (2012) as Hannah Horvath
- Girls (2012) Writer
- Girls (2012) Director
- Girls (2012) Executive Producer
- Girls (2012) Creator
- Finding Your Roots (2012)
- This Is 40 (2012) as Cat
- The Innkeepers (2012) as Barista
- Side by Side (2012) as Self
- Nobody Walks (2012) Writer
- The Hostess With the Leastest (2012) Director
- American Horror Story (2011) as Valerie Solanas
- Billy on the Street (2011) as Self
- Mildred Pierce (2011) as Nurse 1
- PressPausePlay (2011) as Self
- Conan (2010) as Self
- Tiny Furniture (2010) as Aura
- Tiny Furniture (2010) Director
- Tiny Furniture (2010) Writer
- Gabi on the Roof in July (2010) as Colby
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Guest Judge
- The House of the Devil (2009) as 911 Operator (voice)
- Family Tree (2009)
- Creative Nonfiction (2009) as Ella
- Creative Nonfiction (2009) Writer
- Creative Nonfiction (2009) Director
- The Viewer (2009) as The Voice
- The Pleasure of Being Robbed (2008) Thanks
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Dealing (2007) as Georgia
- Dealing (2007) Director
- Open the Door (2007)
- Open the Door (2007) Director
- Open the Door (2007) Writer
- The Fountain (2007)
- The Fountain (2007) Director
- Hooker on Campus (2007) as Hooker
- Hooker on Campus (2007) Director
- Hooker on Campus (2007) Editor
- Pressure (2006)
- Pressure (2006) Director
- Pressure (2006) Writer
- The Colbert Report (2005)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Mean Tweets
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- The Simpsons (1989) as Candace (voice)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Good Sex Director
- Good Sex Writer
- Good Sex Producer
- Going Infinite Writer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lena Dunham best known for?
Lena Dunham is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Choked (2026), House of Criticism (2026), I Wish You All the Best (2025), Industry (2020).
When and where was Lena Dunham born?
Lena Dunham was born on May 13, 1986 in New York, New York, USA.
How many credits does Lena Dunham have?
Lena Dunham has accumulated over 129 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1975 to 2026.
What is Lena Dunham's background in cinema and television?
Lena Dunham is an American writer, director, actress, and producer. She was born on May 13, 1986, in New York, USA. Dunham is the creator, writer, and star of the HBO television series Girls. She has also directed several episodes of Girls, becoming the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outsta...