Rachel Sennott enters the video call and immediately begins an explanation. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she says, seeming truly regretful. Although she's only a bit delayed, she feels compelled to clarify. “My phone conversations always run long.” “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Thankfully, in this context, that’s precisely what is ideal to encounter. Moreover, it’s pretty unsurprising. Anyone familiar with the unapologetically LGBTQ+ and outspoken film titled Bottoms—that she collaborated on with the director and starred in together with her friend the talented actress—will already know that Sennott has a lot to say, whether about gender, sex, or the pros of forming a youth combat group. Plus, by the end the recent multi-episode HBO series titled I Love LA, it becomes obvious that she holds additional insights regarding the darker side of Gen Z life (At 30, Sennott serves as an honorary member for this generation, straddling eras with a knack for connecting millennials and Gen Z).
Inspirations and Artistic Direction
The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s Girls naturally arise and the actress admits to being an admirer, referencing it together with the classic series, Insecure and Atlanta as inspirations for the project, which follows the struggles of an influencer Tallulah and ally and aspiring representative Sennott’s character. Perhaps, the most significant presence on creative vision was reserved for the popular sitcom, the program depicting a rising Hollywood star making his way in an often-seedy LA scene (choice quote: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott began viewing it during COVID-19, became “captivated”, and resolved to create a new version on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.
“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she says. The inspiration for I Love LA came—in part—from her own, initially fractious, move to LA and from her saturn return, a popular occurrence for enthusiasts. This represented an era that included her understand significant life lessons, in her career and individually. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she admits. “In my mid-20s, I moved to LA and got settled. And then I felt like everything started to just fall apart. “It resembled a series of extreme challenges…”
Humble Origins
Growing up in the East Coast, the star commenced creating and acting comedy while studying performance at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she states. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”
She took matters into her own hands, taking the stage at live shows with Ayo and sharing hilarious (and decidedly) unconventional comedy videos digitally. A particular video, titled Baby Cult, depicted several females fetishistically obsessed with having babies; another imagined working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as like being stuck in a thriller. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through campus film circles and eventually starring in her initial project, Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a Jewish wake with hints of the intense thriller. The big theme of her path, she says, has been peers supporting her, instead of the industry at large. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “They were not involved”, she repeats, continuing amusedly: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Career Breakthrough
Those who were skeptical about Sennott then will likely be kicking themselves today. As part of she describes as a “astonishingly complete” development, she has manifested an ideal role. A few years back she uploaded a video named about Los Angeles online, in which she lampooned film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Six years on, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a comedy about Angelenos juggling the perks of online celebrity (such as celebrating at a famous actor’s house) with its pitfalls (your friend being suspected of being a intoxicated criminal, and perhaps becoming a “brand unsafe” outcast). Some could easy to produce a show about online fame that was extremely aspirational—or, worse, one that punched down at the characters. The series steers clear of each, creating a depiction of affluent young adult existence that’s honest about the chaos and the glamour.
Balanced Perspective
“Many programs portray youth and online life with disdain and mockery,” she comments. “I think that young people have been through a lot – I’m mostly thinking of people younger than me, like my little sister, who went to college during Covid, so she had to come home, or my other sister who was doing school online.”|“The younger generation has faced significant
