The HBO series Girls, created by and starring Lena Dunham, launched its cast into the spotlight and garnered a dedicated following for its sharp, distinct humor. As of 2024, fans continue to be interested in the paths taken by the Lena Dunham Girls cast update, revealing the diverse careers its members have pursued since the show ended.
Despite facing critiques for its handling of certain themes and lack of diversity, Girls remains significant to its longtime viewers. Dunham’s current work, including her new Netflix romcom Too Much, reflects a shift in tone from the original series toward a more hopeful and unifying message.
Current Status of Girls’ Principal Cast Members
The main characters of Girls were brought to life by a talented ensemble, each of whom has embarked on varied projects since the show concluded. Below is a detailed look at the main cast members and their recent work.
- Lena Dunham as Hannah Helene Horvath
- Allison Williams as Marnie Marie Michaels
- Jemima Kirke as Jessa Johansson
- Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro
- Adam Driver as Adam Sackler
- Alex Karpovsky as Raymond ‘Ray’ Ploshansky
- Andrew Rannells as Elijah Krantz
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Desi Harper
- Jake Lacy as Fran Parker
The Journey of Lena Dunham and Her Role as Hannah Horvath
Hannah Horvath, portrayed by Dunham, is an aspiring writer living in New York City whose impulsive decisions often lead her into difficult situations. Since Girls ended in 2017, Dunham has concentrated on writing and directing TV shows such as Camping, a remake of Julia Davis’s original UK series, and directing the pilot of Industry, a BBC/HBO production. She also directed two feature films, Sharp Stick and Catherine Called Birdy, the latter starring Bella Ramsey.
Most recently, Dunham created the Netflix romantic comedy series Too Much, drawing loosely on her life experience. Besides working behind the scenes, she has also taken on supporting roles in films like Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and European tragicomedy Treasure.
Reflecting on Girls, Dunham said at a panel for Too Much:
I was like, ‘I don’t care if anyone feels any joy or hope, I just hope that they think it’s crazy’. [But] now I really wanted to make something that was unifying and loving and at the end of the day hopeful.
—Lena Dunham, Creator and Star
Allison Williams’ Transition from Marnie to Emerging Film Star
Williams played Marnie Michaels, one of Hannah’s closest friends who struggles with ambition that ultimately damages her romantic and professional life. As Girls neared its end, Williams began a successful film career starting with Jordan Peele’s horror hit Get Out, which went on to receive four Oscar nominations and one win.
She continued in the horror genre with Blumhouse’s M3GAN and its sequel. Her television appearances since include Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Showtime miniseries Fellow Travellers, a period drama covering LGBTQ+ themes and starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey.
Jemima Kirke’s Diverse Roles Following Jessa Johansson
Kirke portrayed Jessa Johansson, a tumultuous character dealing with addiction and complex romantic relationships. Post-Girls, Kirke appeared in Netflix’s dark comedy miniseries Maniac, alongside Jonah Hill and Emma Stone.
She later joined Netflix’s Sex Education as Hope Haddon, the strict headmistress of Moordale Secondary. Kirke also featured in BBC Three’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends and the Apple TV+ thriller City on Fire, which was cancelled after one season.
Zosia Mamet’s Career Progression After Shoshanna Shapiro
Mamet played the youngest member of the group, Shoshanna Shapiro, a university student known for her naivety. After Girls, Mamet collaborated with Kaley Cuoco on the comedy-drama The Flight Attendant and took a guest role on the animated Harley Quinn series.
Recently, she shared the screen with Saoirse-Monica Jackson in Netflix’s The Decameron and appeared alongside Stephanie Hsu in the sitcom Laid. Mamet was also cast as hacker Amaria in the 2024 film Madame Web.
Adam Driver’s Rise to Hollywood Prominence as Adam Sackler
Driver’s character Adam Sackler started as a struggling actor and carpenter with a casual relationship with Hannah. Since Girls, Driver emerged as a major Hollywood figure, especially for his role as Kylo Ren in Star Wars’ sequel trilogy, appearing in The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker.
He has earned critical acclaim in films like Logan Lucky, BlacKkKlansman, and Marriage Story, the latter two earning him Academy Award and BAFTA nominations. Driver also worked with directors Ridley Scott, Michael Mann, and Francis Ford Coppola on projects such as The Last Duel, Ferrari, House of Gucci, and Megalopolis.
Alex Karpovsky’s Continued Work After Playing Raymond ‘Ray’ Ploshansky
Karpovsky portrayed Ray, a voice of reason within the group and a friend to Marnie’s ex. Since the series ended, he has taken roles such as Craig in the Prime Video thriller Homecoming and appeared in Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.
He also co-starred in Peacock’s miniseries Angelyne, which detailed the story of an enigmatic 1980s celebrity.
Andrew Rannells’ Diverse Roles Post-Elijah Krantz
Rannells played Elijah, Hannah’s ex-boyfriend whose coming out as gay challenged their relationship but eventually strengthened their bond. He reunited with Dunham in the Netflix series Too Much, reprising a similar role to his Girls character.
Since the end of Girls, Rannells has worked on several projects including Netflix’s adult animation Big Mouth, Showtime’s Black Monday, the factual miniseries Welcome to Chippendales, and Prime Video’s superhero series Invincible.
His film credits include A Simple Favor and its 2025 sequel, as well as Ryan Murphy’s stage-to-screen adaptations The Boys in the Band and The Prom. He also lends his voice alongside co-star Mamet in DreamWorks’ Trolls Band Together.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Career Surge After Desi Harper
Moss-Bachrach joined Girls in season three as Desi Harper, Marnie’s bandmate and love interest. Currently, he is recognized for his role as Richie in the acclaimed series The Bear, which led to his casting as Ben Grimm, The Thing, in Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps, set for release in 2025.
This marks his second Marvel Cinematic Universe involvement, having played Micro in the Netflix Punisher series alongside Jon Bernthal. His other recent works include the Jennifer Lawrence comedy No Hard Feelings, Disney+ series Andor, and true crime drama The Dropout.
Jake Lacy’s Post-Girls Highlights as Fran Parker
Lacy joined the series in its fourth season, playing Fran Parker, a coworker and romantic interest of Hannah. He gained wider attention for his role as Shane, an entitled estate agent on the first season of The White Lotus.
Lacy later starred in the true crime drama A Friend of the Family and the mystery miniseries Apples Never Fall, acting alongside Annette Bening and Sam Neill. His film appearances include the video game adaptation Rampage, the comedy Johnny English Strikes Again, and the Hollywood biopic Being the Ricardos.
Where to Watch Girls in 2024
For those interested in revisiting Girls or watching for the first time, the show is available to stream on Sky Max, Sky Go, and NOW. It remains accessible through watchlists on platforms like the Radio Times: What to Watch app, offering daily recommendations and features for viewers.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Lena Dunham have OCD?
A. Conditions like OCD can be effectively controlled, but they might return. Recognizing the return of old, unwanted habits is a tough but necessary step to manage them once more. This issue is sensitive because Lena Dunham has personally dealt with OCD.
Q. What is Lena Dunham diagnosed with?
A. In 2019, Lena shared she had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome after paparazzi caught her using a cane. She mentioned needing the cane during flare-ups and appreciated its help.
Q. Did Lena Dunham actually have OCD?
A. Dunham, who created and wrote the show, dealt with OCD as a child. She’s not the only one with this condition. About one out of every 100 adults, nearly 3 million people in the U.S., have OCD. This anxiety disorder involves having persistent thoughts and the need to perform repeated actions.
Q. What addiction did Lena Dunham have?
A. Lena Dunham has talked about her addiction to Klonopin, a medication for anxiety. She relied more on the drug during the stressful filming of the final season of Girls. She compared that challenging period to a “50-car pileup.”
