British actor Riz Ahmed was intimidated by Girls creator Lena Dunham‘s frenzied directorial style.
In the premiere of its sixth and final season of Lena’s hit U.S. TV comedy on Sunday (12Feb17) her character Hannah goes to the Hamptons to write about a surf camp for women where she meets Riz’s laid-back surf instructor.
As Hannah’s love interest, the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story actor had to film several sex scenes with her.
However, rather than getting intimate, what really concerned him was keeping up with the writer, director, and actress on set.
“Lena, you can’t tell her to slow down,” he told Britain’s Refinery29 website. “She’s writing, directing, producing, acting, and she’s improvising completely new dialogue from one scene to the next as well.
It’s kind of mind-blowing (and) really, really inspirational, and intimidating as well.”
Describing her working style he added, “Listen, you’ve got to see her at work. It’s kind of crazy. She’s going, ‘Okay, you have to change your performance like this, camera shot’s moving like this, let’s change this line over there, I’d like that light moved over there, next take’, and she’s changed all her dialogue. It’s crazy. She’s a force of nature.”
Despite his struggles in keeping up with her on set, the 34-year-old Star Wars actor, who was speaking to the publication at the Elle Style Awards in London on Monday (13Feb17), thanked the Girls creator for giving him the chance to star in the acclaimed show.
“It was an amazing experience,” he gushed. “I’m really grateful to her for reaching out to me. She could have had anyone she wants on that show, so I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
Girls’ sixth season will finish in April (17), bringing the show to an end after five years.
