Lena Beug

Lena Beug uses simplicity in her approach to comedy. She has received praise for her ability to develop grounded performances and subtly reveal the natural humor in life. Born and raised in western Ireland without a television set, isolation fueled Lena’s creativity and her eye for a slightly deranged-yet-sweet realism. “Everyday life is really quite funny,” she says, “You don’t need to make stuff up. You need only to observe it.”

Lena began her career as an art director for MTV’s On-Air Design department, overseeing multiple channel redesigns. She co-created and directed the viral Christmas hit “Merry XXXLMAS,” which was voted the funniest video of the year by Rolling Stone. Whether depicting hungry families for Manwich or extremely dehydrated people for Deep River Rock, her creative and comedic versatility always shine through. 

Lena has helmed campaigns for a wide range of clients, including a recent quirky and charming spot for Ebay (Digitas), “Meet Emma,” which perfectly encompasses her unique style. Other recent work includes a project for McDonald’s and a holiday spot for Walgreens out of GSD&M.

Her recent short for Harper’s Bazaar, “For the Love of Gabrielle,” features actress Annabelle Dexter-Jones in an endearingly funny performance and was curated by Adweek as “Ad of the Day.” 

Lena currently lives in Red Hook, Brooklyn with her family. When not directing, she makes pots and tries to keep her plants alive.