Lena Dunham, creator and star of the award-winning TV show Girls, has crossed the pond to spend this summer directing a new HBO series in Wales.
In early March she posted an Instagram photo which showed her exploring the ancient stone passageways of Caerphilly Castle. Two months later, a selection of snaps featuring Lena enjoying the sunshine at an undisclosed, idyllic Welsh location – likely the grounds of a hotel – got fans wondering if this trip was more than a sightseeing holiday. In mid-June, all became clear.
Yet another Instagram post revealed that Lena is working with Welsh production company Bad Wolf as she directs and produces a new series called Industry. The show will follow a group of young graduates as they navigate the cut-throat world of banking in London. Filming will take place over the summer.
In a tweet, Dunham described her temporary home as 'a dreamy place with fairytale gardens, super sweet humans and dragon mythology' and locals have been bombarding her on social media with suggestions of fun things to do in Wales. She recently visited Cardiff's newest vegan joint, Greazy Vegan, for some virtuous junk food, and chances are she’ll make a few more appearances around the capital and beyond as the project continues.
Wales’ film and TV industry has grown significantly in recent years, bringing more Hollywood celebrities to the region for shoots and creating plenty of travel inspiration for set-jetters. The upcoming series based on Philip Pullman’s fantasy novels, His Dark Materials, brought Hamilton star and Moana songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda to Cardiff last year, while Eva Longoria spent time in the capital in 2016. Other series filmed in Wales recently include Netflix’s Sex Education, The Crown and The End of the F***ing World.
By Emma Sparks
