Actress Lena Dunham has paid tribute to Nora Ephron by dedicating the foreword of her new book Not That Kind Of Girl to the late filmmaker and writer.

The Girls creator and star thanks the You've Got Mail director for her friendship and advice in the touching essay.

Dunham says, "It's very hard for me to describe what it was like to be friends with Nora because there were so many beautiful facets to the experience and I'm so grateful to have had her in my life for the brief time that I did.

"Her generosity with other women, with younger artists was completely unparalleled and she had a way of bringing everyone comfortably into her orbit and providing them with fuel that would take them through life, so I know I'm not alone and I know this dedication stands for a lot of women's feelings about Nora."

Dunham also credits Ephron for helping her find love with fun. star Jack Antonoff.

She continues, "She said to me, 'Once you are fully who you're going to be, you need to find someone who accepts and understands that rather than trying to wedge yourself into the kind of girlfriend who this person wants...', and shortly before Nora passed away I met Jack, and I often wish they could meet each other and I could say, 'Look... I did it'."