Actress Jemima Kirke is known for her candidness, and her latest remarks are no exception. The star, who portrayed Jessa Johansson on the HBO hit Girls, is now redefining what it means to enter a new decade with her signature unfiltered take on the pressure of youth.

In her advice column, “Tender Tips,” the 40-year-old responded to a letter from a reader who felt overwhelmed by the need to “get the best out of being young” while facing uncertainty about the future. The fan wrote: “I’m 25. Do I ever just accept myself, or will I be working on myself forever? How do I enjoy my youth and get the best out of being young when mentally everything’s so uncertain and I’m trying to figure out my future?”

Jemima Kirke’s Blunt Advice for Millennials Feeling the Pressure

Kirke didn’t hold back, using her own experiences to dismiss the idea that youth is something that must be perfectly executed. Her response is a necessary counter-narrative for a generation constantly reminded to seize the day.

Addressing the reader, Kirke stated: “I’m sorry there is so much pressure on you guys to ‘get the most out of your youth.’ You’re constantly being reminded not to take your your  [sic] youth for granted. As if being young is a luxury not all of us are afforded. Youth is fleeting, but it’s hard to enjoy something that threatens you with loss and regret. It’s no wonder people dread getting older. We make it sound like the end of the […] road.” The actress then made a bold statement: “I’m glad my youth is behind me, squandered and definitely not lived to the fullest.”

From NYC Art Scene to the Mean Streets of Law & Order: SVU

While she’s looking back at her twenties with a sense of relief, Kirke is fully immersed in her career now. The British-born artist, who resides in New York City, is set to appear on one of the city’s most iconic television series: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Kirke will step into a darker role than her bohemian Girls character as a guest star in Season 27. She was spotted filming in Manhattan back in early October 2025, taking on the character of Claire Morgan in the episode titled “False Idols.”

The role, described which the star described as a “villain,” sees Kirke play a famous author who is twisting crime details, leaving the veteran SVU squad to determine where fact ends and fantasy begins. This turn marks a departure for the star, putting her sharp delivery and edgy persona to use as she takes on the role of an antagonist in a network procedural drama.