"I am saving it all for my book": Adam Driver declines to comment on Dunham's memoir
The memoir "Famesick" by Lena Dunham, published on April 14, recounts her experiences creating and starring in the HBO series "Girls." The book covers on-set incidents with co-star Adam Driver, professional conflicts with producer Scott Rudin and showrunner Jenni Konner, the dissolution of her relationship with musician Jack Antonoff, and her diagnoses of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and endometriosis. Driver publicly declined to comment on the book's content during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival.
On-Set Incidents with Adam Driver
Dunham describes her working relationship with actor Adam Driver, who played her boyfriend on "Girls." According to the memoir, Driver made unexpected choices during scenes that Dunham states often improved her own acting. She recounts an incident where Driver threw a chair at a wall during line practice and another where he changed blocking during a sex scene. Dunham states she did not feel violated but questioned whether she had lost directorial authority. She writes that they were close during the first season but grew apart after Driver became engaged, and had barely spoken for three years by his final filming day.
"It never entered my mind to say, 'I am your boss, you can't speak to me that way.'"
In an interview on "Today With Jenna & Sheinelle," Dunham stated she wrote about "a dynamic that a lot of young women can understand in the workplace" and emphasized wanting readers to understand her experiences in the full context of her book. She told The Guardian that at the time, "it never entered my mind to say, 'I am your boss, you can't speak to me that way.'"
When asked if she would stay in touch with Driver, Dunham said, "Our entire cast has a sort of bond that I don't think can ever be broken."
At a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, Driver stated, "I have no comment on any of that. I'm saving it all for my book." The comment prompted laughter from the press. Driver attended the festival to promote his film Paper Tiger. He received Emmy nominations for his role on "Girls."
Conflict with Scott Rudin and Personal Injury
Dunham details leaving a project with producer Scott Rudin to focus on "Girls." She states this prompted emails from Rudin calling her a "spoiled little girl" and threatening legal action. The following day, during what she describes as a dissociative episode, Dunham perforated her eardrum with a Q-tip. This incident later appeared in the second season of "Girls."
Relationship with Jenni Konner
Konner served as showrunner alongside Dunham on "Girls" and became a close friend who attended to Dunham during surgeries. Dunham describes several moments where their relationship deteriorated, including Konner telling her to gain weight for the show and questioning her medical issues. Dunham points to a joint statement defending a "Girls" writer accused of rape as something she regrets and that further strained their relationship. After a therapy appointment, Konner told Dunham not to write about their relationship immediately and left.
Relationship with Jack Antonoff
Dunham details the dissolution of her five-year relationship with musician Jack Antonoff. She cites his frequent touring, her medical issues, and instances such as him arriving late to the hospital after her surgery as contributing factors. They entered couples therapy with a commitment to stay together despite not envisioning a future together.
Health Issues and Rehabilitation
Dunham discusses her Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and endometriosis diagnoses, which involved multiple surgeries and daily pain management. She became addicted to anxiety medication Klonopin and entered rehab at the Center for Motivation and Change while her HBO show "Camping" was in production. After her hysterectomy and before officially breaking up with Antonoff, she reconnected with a childhood boyfriend named Nick. They became engaged three months later, but Dunham later learned he also struggled with substance abuse.
Responses
Adam Driver, Scott Rudin, and Jenni Konner did not respond to requests for comment from The Hollywood Reporter regarding the accounts in the memoir.