Lena Dunham<\/a> has made her return to the Met Gala red carpet<\/a>\u2014her first since 2019.<\/p>\n In her new memoir, Famesick<\/em>, Dunham recounts her experiences at previous Met Galas<\/a>. In 2017, she suffered complications from endometriosis surgery during the evening and was hospitalized; the following year, Dunham attended the gala while in the midst of a rehab program. In the book, she recalls bringing her gold Elizabeth Kennedy gown back to the treatment center, where it was patted down for contraband. Later, one of her fellow patients\u2014a teenager she calls Gaylen\u2014tries on the dress, swanning around the living quarters.<\/p>\n Lena Dunham at the 2026 Met Gala.<\/p>\n <\/span>Theo Wargo<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Now, eight years later, Dunham is returning to the 2026 Met Gala<\/a> on her own terms\u2014and as a member of the host committee<\/a>. Still, as someone who lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome<\/a>, Dunham is cognizant of her body\u2019s limits. \u201cSomeone asked me in another interview, \u2018Well, why are you going if you don\u2019t enjoy it?\u2019 I never said that I don\u2019t enjoy it. But I think anyone who\u2019s being honest about it\u2014even Anna or the other people who are in a position of authority there\u2014would say it\u2019s a rodeo,\u201d she says. \u201cI have always loved watching it as a fan, and I\u2019ve always loved being here.\u201d<\/p>\n Dunham has written about her experience with chronic pain for Vogue<\/em>\u2014including about her decision to have a hysterectomy<\/a> at 31 years old. \u201cAnna knew a lot of what I was going through physically, because I shared it in the magazine,\u201d she says. \u201cThis year was a bit of a vote of confidence. I felt like they were saying, \u2018We see you\u2019re feeling better. You\u2019re in your body. You can do this.\u2019 It\u2019s an honor to be invited, and I want to rise to the occasion when I can.\u201d<\/p>\n And rise to the occasion she did in Valentino<\/a> by Alessandro Michele<\/a>. \u201cI wrote him a long, elaborate fan letter about what his work means to me,\u201d Dunham says. \u201cI was lucky enough that he responded and said that he was up for the task.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n
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