Girls creator Lena Dunham reflects on the show’s most iconic line 13 years on

Lena Dunham has spoken about Girls’ most memorable quote ahead of the release of her new Netflix series, Too Much.

The new ten-episode series follows a New York creative and British romance movie lover, Jessica (Hacks star Megan Stalter), who moves to London after a bad break-up and quickly strikes up a relationship with chaotic musician Felix (The White Lotus’ Will Sharpe).

The show leans right into the messiness of life with two imperfect protagonists trying to process their own life traumas while building a new future together.

This relatable, vulnerable, quality that Dunham, 39, imbues into her shows has long been a topic of discourse ever since her seminal 2012 HBO show Girls hit screens, featuring the iconic line delivered in the pilot episode.

‘I don’t wanna freak you out, but I think I may be the voice of my generation. Or at least, a voice of a generation,’ her character Hannah Horvath confidently proclaims.

Over 13 years on, and as she introduces a new complicated protagonist to the small screen, Lena reflected on the quote’s larger-than-life legacy to Metro at the UK premiere of Too Much.

‘[A] voice of a generation was always meant to be a joke… I can’t even remember the line anymore. I think what’s so important is that no one can be the voice of women, no one can be the voice of any community.

‘A generation isn’t a monolith, and something I love about my generation is the diversity of perspective. I feel like if I can bring light to a specific kind of experience that I’m connected to, that’s wonderful. But what I’m most excited about is seeing all kinds of shows that tell all kinds of stories.

‘I think British TV is a great place for that. I’ve just been watching What It Feels Like For A Girl, and it’s so beautiful. I just feel so excited when I see a new voice that is telling such a specific and personal story.

‘I didn’t know what it was like to grow up queer in the early 2000s in Nottingham, but now I do… so that’s always what I’m trying to do,’ she said.

In an interview with The New Yorker this month, she revealed that she had firmly decided against starring in her new show, with no plans to repeat the same scrutiny that came with starring in Girls.

As for whether she had offered the 34-year-old any advice on how to handle being a Lena Dunham leading lady, she said:’Meg is her own incredible person, and she is so self-possessed.

‘I learned so much from her, and I wish I’d had her in my ear when I was on a show. She [is] just is so elegant and wise and funny, so she’s got it all covered.’

As for Meg, it was a dream come true to work with the Catherine Called Birdy filmmaker on this project.

She explained: ‘I’m a huge Girls fan and it just felt like working with your best friend that you grew up with and who is also the most talented and confident director, writer, actor, so it just felt like heaven.’

As for what may shock audiences the most, she joked that audiences shouldn’t be surprised that Dunham writes ‘such beautiful real scenes’ and addressed the moment in the trailer which left everyone’s jaws dropped.

The actor said: ‘You’re crying one second and laughing the next, you know. It is shocking when a show does that, but I wasn’t shocked because that’s Girls. You’re laughing, you’re crying.

‘The spit scene in the trailer, people were shocked over but they shouldn’t be because spitting is kissing, so get over it!’

Too Much comes out on Netflix on July 10, 2025.

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