Allison Williams Reflects: 'Girls' Character Was 'Ahead of Her Time,' Show Now 'Resonates in a New Way'

Allison Williams believes her "Girls" character—and the entire show—has taken on new meaning as younger audiences discover it through social media.

Allison Williams JON KOPALOFF/GETTY IMAGES

Williams portrayed Marnie, one of the four main characters based in New York City, in HBO's "Girls," which aired for six seasons from 2012 to 2017.

"The whole show faced a lot of criticism when it was on air for its characters being too selfish and self-centered," Williams explained to her former co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach in a recent Vanity Fair video. Moss-Bachrach played Desi, Marnie's musician boyfriend-turned-husband-turned-ex.

Both actors observed that many younger audiences are now discovering the show for the first time through TikTok and other social media platforms, and they are receiving the series more positively. Marnie, in particular, has been embraced by these new viewers after previously being dismissed as overly cringeworthy and annoying. Williams attributes this shift to her character being "before her time."

"My theory is, what was seen as selfishness among millennials is now seen as self-care," Williams said. "It's about being aware of what you need, advocating for your needs, and standing up for yourself. So Gen Z is like, 'No, we get her. She makes sense to us.'"

Williams added that audiences now recognize that the show, written and created by Lena Dunham, was essentially about “a bunch of girls trying to create the best environment for each of them to survive and thrive, making mistakes but still trying and caring.”

She continued, “I think this pursuit resonates in a new way now. Previously, it just seemed like we were oblivious to the existence of other countries or the hardships of others, but that was part of the point. It just got a bit overlooked.”

Williams also shared her thoughts on where her "Girls" character would be today. “I think Marnie is still pursuing a singing career, alongside other jobs,” she said. “I imagine her with another marriage under her belt and probably on the verge of deciding to have a baby on her own.”