Allison Williams on Red Carpet with Father Brian
Allison Williams was joined by her former NBC anchor father Brian Williams on a rare red carpet a decade after his suspension for lying about…
Allison Williams said her character on Girls resonates with Gen Z more than Millennials.
The 36-year-old actress said she believed the original viewers of Lena Dunham’s HBO series misunderstood ‘the point’ and said her reviled character Marnie was ‘before her time.’
Although the show concluded its six-season run seven years ago, Girls is being discovered again on social media.
For that reason, the M3GAN alum — who commanded attention in a plunging black gown at the Golden Globes in January — explained the Gen Z crowd are embracing her character, who is one of four protagonists in the New York City-based comedy drama series.
As she reunited with her former co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach for a Vanity Fair video interview released on Tuesday, Williams said people believed the show was ‘too self-centered’ at the time of airing but more people are seeing it as ‘self-care.’
Allison Williams said her character on Girls resonates with Gen Z more than Millennials. The 36-year-old actress said she believed the original viewers of Lena Dunham ‘s HBO series misunderstood ‘the point’ and said her reviled character Marnie was ‘before her time’
Although the show concluded its six-season run seven years ago, Girls is being discovered again on social media. For that reason, she explained the Gen Z crowd are embracing her character, who is one of four protagonists in the New York City-based comedy drama series
About the second wave of popularity Moss-Bachrach, who played Marnie’s musician boyfriend-turned-husband-turned-ex Desi, she shared her thoughts on the resurgence of popularity surrounding Girls.
‘The whole show got a lot of flack when it was airing for everyone being too selfish and self-centered and blah blah blah,’ she said about the series’ premiere over a decade ago in April 2012.
She said fans who may have discovered the show from social media clips or are now rewatching it are pro-Marnie this time around and understand the character, who was previously widely hailed as tone-deaf and self-serving.
‘My theory is, what was coded as selfishness among Millennials is now coded as self-care,’ she continued. ‘So Gen Z, is like, “No, we get her. She makes sense to us.”‘
She noted that ‘the point’ was ‘missed a little bit’ back then, but now audiences ‘are just getting it.’
‘I think that’s a pursuit that is resonant in a new way, whereas before it just looked like we didn’t know that other countries existed or that anyone had lives that were less fortunate than ours, but that was sort of the point,’ she said. ‘It just got missed a little bit.’
Speaking to Moss-Bachrach, she also spoke about where she believed her character Marnie would be today.
‘I think Marnie’s still trying to have a singing career, in addition to other jobs,’ Williams said before adding that she thinks her character would’ve moved out of New York City.
As she reunited with her former co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach for a Vanity Fair video interview released on Tuesday, Williams said people believed the show was ‘too self-centered’ at the time of airing but more people are seeing it as ‘self-care’
She said fans who may have discovered the show from social media clips or are now rewatching it are pro-Marnie this time around and understand the character, who was previously widely hailed as tone-deaf and self-serving
‘My theory is, what was coded as selfishness among Millennials is now coded as self-care,’ she continued. ‘So Gen Z, is like, “No, we get her. She makes sense to us.”‘ She noted that ‘the point’ was ‘missed a little bit’ back then, but now audiences ‘are just getting it’
Girls, helmed by Lena Dunham, previously ran for six seasons from 2012 to 2017 on HBO; seen with co-stars Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet and Lena Dunham
‘I picture her with another marriage under her belt, I think probably on the verge of deciding to have a baby on her own,’ she continued.
‘I see her in Boston, sort of,’ she said. ‘Wanting to stay close. Amtrak away, but not in the same — needing to have a new zip code.’
Moss-Bachrach, who is starring in the upcoming third season of Hulu series The Bear, also shared where he thought his character Desi would have ended up.
He said the tortured artist would have also moved but further away to the West, perhaps Arizona, to do hosting tours.
Dunham also recently reflected on the show’s reemergence in a February interview with Variety.
The filmmaker, who helmed the series and starred as the aspiring writer Hannah, said the embrace was ‘crazy and wild and not something I expected.’
Speaking to Moss-Bachrach, Williams also spoke about where she believed her character Marnie would be today. ‘I think Marnie’s still trying to have a singing career, in addition to other jobs,’ Williams said before adding that she thinks her character would’ve moved out of New York City
Moss-Bachrach, who is starring in the upcoming third season of Hulu series The Bear, also shared where he thought his character Desi would have ended up. He said the tortured artist would have also moved but further away to the West, perhaps Arizona, to do hosting tours
Dunham also recently reflected on the show’s reemergence in a February interview with Variety . The filmmaker, who helmed the series and starred as the aspiring writer Hannah, said the embrace was ‘crazy and wild and not something I expected’
‘The cast and I, when we get sent a funny meme by someone, we’re sharing them. I’m going to be 38 in May; I started writing this show when I was 23. I felt like, “If I make a pilot, wow, what a life experience.” So the fact that there’s anyone — I mean, people are still watching a show that came out before Instagram was invented?! What the heck?’
The actress also shared her gratitude appreciation to the viewers and fans — old and new.
‘So to anyone who’s leading the revival: I see your TikTok mashups. I feel grateful for them, even though I’m technologically incompetent and not really on Instagram. I’m getting the love and it’s very felt and appreciated.’
All six seasons of Girls are available to stream on Max.
