Lena Dunham Steps Away from Acting in New Netflix Series ‘Too Much’ due to Body Shaming

Lena Dunham, the 38-year-old actor and writer, has revealed that she will not be starring in her upcoming Netflix series Too Much, citing concerns about body shaming. In an interview with The New Yorker, Dunham explained that she was “just not up for having my body dissected again” and has instead cast Megan Stalter in the lead role.

Too Much, set to release in 2025, follows an American woman in her 30s who moves to London and falls in love with a British musician. The series draws parallels to Dunham’s own life, as she now resides in London with her husband, Luis Felber. Initially, Dunham had planned to play the main role herself but ultimately decided to cast Stalter, whom she describes as “a little Meryl Streep.”

Dunham reflected on her past experiences with body shaming during the production of her hit HBO series Girls, stating that she was “not willing to have another experience like what I’d experienced around Girls at this point in my life.” She emphasized the importance of prioritizing her well-being and creative control, saying, “What makes me feel powerful is making my work. It’s the only thing I want to do.”

In addition to stepping back from the starring role in Too Much, Dunham confirmed that she will not be producing the Polly Pocket film, despite working on the script for three years. She expressed her desire to focus on projects that feel absolutely necessary for her to make, stating, “No one but me could make it, and I did think other people could make Polly Pocket.”