This post contains discussion of body image issues.
The popular HBO series — which had six seasons between 2012 and 2017 — follows a group of friends as they navigate life, careers, and relationships in New York City.
As you may know, Girls — which also stars the likes of Allison Williams and Adam Driver — was inspired by Lena’s own life, and the character she played, Hannah, was partly based on her.
And now, more than a decade after Girls premiered, Lena is working on yet another semi-autobiographical series, Too Much, alongside her husband, Luis Felber.
Currently set for a 2025 release on Netflix, Too Much will follow Jessica, an American woman in her mid-30s who moves to the UK after a difficult breakup. In London, Jessica meets and falls in love with a musician named Felix, who is described in the official description as “a walking series of red flags.”
Because the show’s description closely mirrors Lena’s experience of moving to the UK and meeting her husband, she was expected to take the lead role, just as she did in Girls. However, it was announced in December that Megan Stalter would star as Jessica alongside Will Sharpe, who will play Felix.
Now, speaking to the New Yorker for a new profile, Lena explained that she was reluctant to star in the show after previous experiences with body-shaming.
Interestingly, Lena — who’s talked openly about body image struggles — recalled it was difficult to “admit” that she wouldn’t feel comfortable in the lead role. However, she said casting Megan was the perfect alternative, comparing her star to “a little Meryl Streep.”
Notably, Lena also talked about the importance of “protecting yourself and doing what you need to do to keep making work.”