Girls' Lena Dunham Inherited Knack for Gay Boyfriends From Her Mother

Lena Dunham, creator and star of HBO's hit comedy Girls, says she may have inherited her knack for attracting boyfriends who later come out as gay from her mother, according to an interview with NPR.

BY Jeremy Kinser

May 08 2012 3:28 PM ET

Dunham with a friend, Vogue editor Hamish Bowles

"It's happened to me more than once, and my mom says it must be genetic because she has a couple of them in her past too," Dunham tells NPR. "Our fear is that we turn men gay." The 25-year-old wunderkind has drawn heavily from her own life while writing the widely acclaimed series, including the gay ex-boyfriends. In a recent episode The Book of Mormon's Andrew Rannells memorably played Elijah, a former boyfriend of Dunham's Hanna character, whom she accuses of giving her HPV, only to learn that he's since come out of the closet.

Dunham previously revealed to Out that she's proud of having so many gay exes. “The best option is that people who are confused about their sexuality feel really comfortable with me," she says. "The worst option is that I turn them.”

Girls airs Sunday nights on HBO.