NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams is “cringing” with embarrassment because his 23-year-old daughter Allison is starring in a raunchy, sexy TV show, say sources.
While publicly supportive of Allison’s showbiz ambitions, the newsman is red-faced over her participation in the HBO sitcom “Girls” because she performs in a sex scene in the very first episode.
Allison – the older of 52-year-old Williams’ two children by wife Jane – landed the plum role of Marnie in the much publicized comedy, which premieres April 15.
Her dad, who’s witnessed all sorts of horror and heartbreak in his news career, reportedly had to close his eyes while watching his daughter’s character simulate a solo sex act in an advance screening of the first episode.
“Poor Brian got the shock of his life watching the scene,” revealed a friend. “Allison was beaming with pride that she has a starring role on a TV show, but all Brian saw was his little girl getting down and dirty.
“Allison noticed her dad squirming and told him, ‘You know it’s only acting! That’s a character, not me on the screen.’ But Brian told her, ‘It sure looks like you – don’t you care what people are going to think of you?’
“Brian envisioned her working on some English period piece, not pleasuring herself on-screen!
“It makes him cringe that old friends are now coming up to him and saying, ‘Your daughter – wow!’”
Allison graduated from Yale University in 2010 with a dream of becoming an actress. And “Girls” producer Judd Apatow – the director behind the movies “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up” – gave her a big break by choosing her for the cast.
“The show is sure to be a big hit,” said the source. “But while Brian wants his daughter to be successful, this part is threatening to start a family feud.”
