Interestingly, Dunham — who’s talked openly about body image struggles — recalled it was difficult to “admit” that she wouldn’t feel comfortable in the lead role. However, she said casting Stalter was the perfect alternative, comparing her star to “a little Meryl Streep.”
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“I also think that I was not willing to have another experience like what I’d experienced around Girls at this point in my life,” she said, recalling the body-shaming she endured while starring on the hit HBO show in her 20s.
“Physically, I was just not up for having my body dissected again. It was a hard choice, not to cast Meg — because I knew I wanted Meg — but to admit that to myself,” she continued.