www.digitalspy.com – 14th February, 2014

By Daniel Sperling

Richard E Grant has defended Lena Dunham over complaints about the amount of nudity in Girls, commenting that only “old people” are bothered by that element of the show.

Dunham came under fire while promoting the third season of her HBO show last month when a reporter at the Television Critics Association press tour accused her of appearing naked “at random times for no reason”.

Richard E Grant attends the EE and Esquire
BAFTA party at The Savoy Hotel
© Getty Images / Mike Marsland/WireImage

Talking to DS at the EE and Esquire pre-BAFTA party at The Savoy last night (February 12), Grant – who guest-starred in Girls as a wise rehab patient – said of Dunham: “She’s hit the zeitgeist of women between the age of 20 and 30. To do that, she’s a genie.

“I think old people fixate on [the nudity]. Anybody her age doesn’t even think twice about it.”

Touching on accusations of nepotism flung at Dunham and the rest of the Girls cast, Grant argued that any young actor has to fight to prove themselves in the industry, regardless of their connections.

“Some people are sort of born into it, but even if they have famous parents, they still have to prove themselves,” he said. “It’s very democratic in that way. Your talent is your currency. There’s no easy route in.”

Lena Dunham, TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential
People in the World Gala, New York
© WENN

Dunham recently told Digital Spy that she welcomes “intelligent debate” about the nudity in Girls, but said the TCAs comment “wasn’t very polite”.