They have both been included on the list of The 100 People to Watch in 2013, compiled by a panel of industry experts for The Times.
The experts have tipped Bigelow for glory at the upcoming 2013 Academy Awards with her new movie "Zero Dark Thirty", after previously becoming the first woman to win the Best Director prize with her gritty 2009 film "The Hurt Locker".
They also suggest Dunham will have a successful year - she recently received four Emmy Awards nominations for her hit Tv show 'Girls', which she writes, produces and stars in, and she is also set to release her first book in September this year.
Other stars featured in the list include British singer Laura Mvula and actor Ben Whishaw, who shot to fame last year by taking over the role of gadgets expert Q in latest James Bond movie "Skyfall".