Currently filming the tail-end of her HBO series' third season, Girls creator and star Lena Dunham received news of her Emmy nominations, like so many, via a call from her publicist -- but Dunham is used to more awkward morning messages.
"I woke up to the extreme belief that I had done something to get me in a lot of trouble," Dunham told The Hollywood Reporter. "Not that it happens a lot, but I feel like there's always something that I say on Twitter that is then reshaped into something really dark. I actually have the greatest publicist. She's like, 'I'm just living with who you are and the fact that you're going to go out inappropriate shorts and I'm going to have to hear about.'"
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Walking to set through the "disgusting, repulsive heat" currently plaguing New York City, Dunham notes that most of the "shriek-y, joyful, amazed sensation" she's gotten from the show's five nominations -- including three for herself -- is for co-star Adam Driver.
"It means so much to me," she says of Driver's supporting actor in a comedy nom. "He's a serious man, so you're not going to see him shrieking any time, but watching him work over the last three years now has been one of the greatest gifts I've ever had."
Looking to Sept. 22, Dunham says a year of the awards show circuit under her belt has left her with several important lessons -- most importantly about food and star-gazing.
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"I get that you're not going to get a delicious filet mignon at the Emmys," she says. "You should probably bring some almonds and drink a tea beforehand. I'll also make a more clear list of people to stalk and harass, so I can hit them up systematically rather than flail around. Last year I did not do so well and ended up following Kerry Washington around for ten hours without actually talking to her."
Washington and the rest of the Scandal cast, as well as Louis C.K. and everyone from Top of the Lake are a high priority for Dunham this year -- as is finding an outfit that balances her own taste with what others deem appropriate.
"I have a lot of fantasies about what I'm going to wear that don't correspond to reality because the people in my life will stop me from doing it -- like the rabbit ears I'd like to wear to the Emmys," adds Dunham. "I really love fashion, but I have not totally mastered what red carpet fashion means."
