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Andrew Rannells discusses ‘razzle dazzle,’ kissing scenes, and working with Lena Dunham on HBO’s Girls and a new film
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Aug 13, 11:49 AM EDT

Andrew Rannells discusses ‘razzle dazzle,’ kissing scenes, and working with Lena Dunham on HBO’s Girls and a new film

In an interview published August 13, Andrew Rannells said playing up an on-screen “showmance” and negotiating co-star chemistry helped shape his approach to romance scenes, including a new discussion of how he supported Lena Dunham off screen while working together on Girls.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Andrew Rannells, best known for playing Elijah on HBO’s Girls and for roles including the Tony-winning The Book of Mormon, spoke in a new interview about the on-screen “razzle dazzle” of performance, including moments involving kissing co-stars and the boundary between playful acting and real-life rapport. He described the experience of working with co-stars and said it could feel “fun” to be pushed into physical comedy and improvisational rhythms, reflecting the interview’s focus on how actors build trust during demanding scenes.

The interview also returned to Rannells’s time on Girls and his relationship with series creator Lena Dunham. Rannells discussed coming out and the personal context surrounding his portrayal of a formerly closeted ex of Dunham’s character, describing the emotional and professional considerations that come with returning to a role that carried public visibility.

Beyond the legacy of Girls, Rannells addressed a theme that has circulated around the series’ fan conversations: the transformation of an on-screen “showmance” into a romance. In the interview, he framed the dynamic as part performance, part chemistry, and part collaboration, emphasizing how cast interactions influence what ends up on screen.

Rannells also spoke about taking what he said he learned on Girls into other projects, including his work on stage and screen. The interview highlighted his screen persona in put-down scenes and quick dialogue, describing him as a performer who can deliver sharp lines while still staying playful within a scene.

In addition to revisiting Girls, Rannells discussed a new film, Miss You Love You Imagine, where the interview notes he works opposite Allison Janney. Rannells characterized the on-screen clash as a contrast of styles, with Janney’s character meeting his character’s “withering” lines, according to the framing in the interview.

Taken together, the interview positions Rannells’s career as centered on character work that depends on timing, physicality, and interpersonal attention, from the staged “razzle dazzle” of romantic and comedic scenes to his behind-the-scenes approach to co-creation with Dunham.

The interview does not indicate any additional casting, production timelines, or release dates beyond the fact that Miss You Love You Imagine is discussed as a current project, but it provides a window into how Rannells describes his method for balancing personal identity, co-star trust, and scene partner chemistry.

Why It Matters

  • The discussion highlights how major television productions like HBO’s Girls depend on cast trust for intimate scenes and on-screen chemistry.
  • Rannells’s comments on coming out and collaboration add context to how public-facing entertainment roles intersect with personal identity.
  • The interview ties a long-running cultural conversation around Girls to Rannells’s current film work, keeping attention on the durability of that cast and creative ecosystem.
  • By describing a new pairing with Allison Janney, the interview also indicates continued interest in character-driven comedy and dialogue-forward performances in contemporary film.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Andrew Rannells discussed working on HBO’s Girls, including his role as Elijah and his character’s relationship to Lena Dunham’s character.
  • Rannells said he came out, and the interview connects that personal context to his Girls work.
  • The interview addresses “razzle dazzle,” kissing co-stars, and how on-screen chemistry develops through collaboration.
  • Rannells described the dynamic around a “showmance” and how it connects to a romance element on the series.
  • Rannells discussed a new film, Miss You Love You Imagine, and referenced working with Allison Janney.
  • The interview credits Rannells with being a supportive collaborator and frames him as a “better friend” to Lena Dunham as part of the discussion.