Lena Dunham Names A-List Actors Who Auditioned For Girls But Were Turned Down

Between the more dramatic – and, indeed, salacious – revelations in Lena Dunham’s new book, she’s also treated Girls fans to some intriguing behind-the-scenes tea.

In her new memoir Famesick, the Emmy nominee has opened up about some of the A-list stars who tried out for roles in Girls, only to not make the cut.

While she didn’t name which parts the actors were trying out for, she listed Marvel star Elizabeth Olsen, Fifty Shades actor Dakota Johnson, Black Mirror’s Cristin Milioti and comedian Amy Schumer, claiming they were all seen “several times” about appearing in the show.

She also claimed: “I recognised a woman named Allison Mack from Smallville; she wasn’t right for any of the roles but invited me via email to her ‘intimate women’s group’ every week for the next year (there but for the grace of God go I).”

In 2021, Allison Mack was imprisoned over her involvement in the sex-trafficking cult NXIVM, after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy.

Lena previously wrote about Amy Schumer’s Girls audition in her Lenny newsletter back in 2016, revealing the comic tried out for the role of Shoshana.

“Everyone in the room was stunned by the detail and skill of her improv, the wild talent radiating off her (and I was personally intrigued by her breasts),” she joked.

“It was clear Amy wasn’t meant to play an innocent Juicy Couture lover obsessed with emoji – even if her Meatpacking District club lingo was the funniest shit I had ever heard. But when she left the room, the vibe was very ‘Someone give that lady a show, STAT!’.”

Meanwhile, Jenny Slate has previously revealed that she made it far into the audition process for the role of Marnie, which eventually went to Allison Williams, before eventually being cast as recurring character Tally Schifrin.