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Celebrities were everywhere on the North Fork this week

CLAIRE LEADEN PHOTO | Allison Williams films a scene for HBO’s “Girls” outside Claudio’s in Greenport.

They’re among the most popular female entertainers in the world today.

One, a spunky 27-year-old writer, claimed a best actress Golden Globe award this year for her work on the popular HBO series she created herself.

The other, a Grammy Award-winning chart-topper of the same age, was listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

Lena Dunham and Lady Gaga are two influential, young, feminist entertainers — and they both spent part of this week on the North Fork.

Oh, yes. Music legend Billy Joel, Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl Kate Upton and Golden Globe-nominated actress Cameron Diaz were here, too.

This may not be the Hamptons, but it felt like it for star-struck fans who spotted their favorite entertainers this week at restaurants and filming locations in their hometown.

The star-studded week actually began to develop last summer, when Ms. Dunham spent a weekend at the North Fork home of a “Girls” director, two of the show’s producers said.

“She really liked the North Fork, so she thought, ‘Let’s shoot an episode here,’ ” executive producer Ilene Landress said. “We’re really thrilled to be out here. It’s gorgeous.”

SEE PHOTOS FROM THE ‘GIRLS’ SET

After scouting trips to the area this spring, the “Girls” crew, with part-time local resident Jesse Peretz behind the camera, filmed for parts of the past two weeks at a waterfront home in East Marion, dockside at Claudio’s restaurant and at The Market on Front Street in Greenport Village. Filming finally wrapped this Tuesday, when the series’ four title characters shot scenes in the heart of the village in front of a group of local fans, who were granted a front row view of all the action.

“It’s crazy that they’re filming here; it’s so awesome,” said Danielle Rodger of Greenport. “I can’t believe they’re just sitting right there in front of us.

“It’s nice that they’re not too protective of the space and we can just sit here with our children and watch them film,” she added.

And a trip to the North Fork was a welcome break from New York City for the cast and crew of the show.

“It’s not vacation because we’re still working, but it feels like vacation to us,” said “Girls” associate producer Ericka Naegle. “It’s a nice break from the city. It’s never a bad thing when the monitors are set up right next to a harbor.”

HBO spokeswoman Tobe Becker said the scenes are being filmed for an episode in season three that will air in 2014. According to a tweet from one of the film’s producers, the North Fork-themed episode is the seventh of the season.

The “Girls” team wasn’t alone in taking a break from the city to film on the East End this week.

Ms. Upton, Ms. Diaz and actress Leslie Mann — whose husband, Judd Apatow, coincidentally co-wrote the “Girls” episode filming here this week — were shooting scenes in Quogue for the upcoming film “The Other Woman.” The Nick Cassavetes-helmed picture is due for release in 2014.

The popular trio of actresses took a break from filming last Thursday night to have dinner with Lady Gaga, whose boyfriend has a role in the movie, at Jerry and the Mermaid restaurant on East Main Street in downtown Riverhead.

Restaurant owner Jerry Dicecco said the stars were celebrating Ms. Upton’s 21st birthday that night.

“It was a really great bunch of people — they had a lot of fun, enjoyed the food and they were really nice to me and my staff,” Mr. Dicecco said. “It was great for the restaurant and for downtown Riverhead itself because of all of the changes that are being made in town in general. It was really nice to see such a famous group of people come in and patronize our small businesses. We were just really proud to serve them.”

Public relations pro Nicole Starr Castillo of WordHampton said the same group of stars also dined at The Riverhead Project. She added that the “Girls” crew enjoyed a meal at Noah’s in Greenport last Monday night.

Mr. Joel sailed into Greenport Wednesday afternoon on his boat, “Alexa.” He docked and shopped at Preston’s.

The celebrity sightings certainly made it feel like the Hamptons here, but one line of dialogue from the “Girls” episode helps to put things back in perspective.

In one scene, the character Shoshanna, played by actress Zosia Mamet, gets off a bus, steps out near Claudio’s and says to her friends, “Wow, I can’t believe we’re here in the Hamptons.”

Marnie, played by Allison Williams, quickly corrects her.

“No, this is the North Fork,” Marnie says. “It’s actually very different.”

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