Lena Dunham, the creator and star of Girls, has spoken out about the harsh scrutiny she’s faced throughout her career, calling the body-shaming in Hollywood “merciless.” In a candid interview with Variety, Dunham reflected on how the criticism persisted no matter what size she was — whether thinner due to illness or simply aging naturally.

“Whether I was a size 4 or a size 16, there were always opinions about my body,” she shared. “Hollywood remains merciless toward body image.”

Dunham revealed that part of her decision to step away from acting was influenced by the toll this scrutiny took on her mental health. While the body positivity movement once gained momentum, she believes it has lost visibility in recent years.

Currently, Dunham is focused on her new series Too Much, where she serves as showrunner and mentor to rising star Megan Stalter. She says protecting her cast from the kind of criticism she endured is a top priority.

“I can handle people coming for me, but I won’t stay quiet when they come for someone just trying to do their job,” she added.

Her words come at a time when Hollywood is again being called to reflect on its standards, its messaging, and how it treats women of all sizes — especially those behind the scenes and in positions of creative power.