🔗 Share this article

Rachel Sennott joins the digital interview and at once launches into an excuse. “Apologies for the delay!” she says, sounding truly apologetic. Despite being only a bit late, she needs to clarify. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Luckily, during an interview, this is precisely what you want to encounter. Besides, it’s fairly expected. Anyone who know the fearlessly queer and outspoken movie Bottoms—which she co-wrote with Emma Seligman and appeared in alongside collaborator The Bear’s standout—would be aware that Sennott possesses much to discuss, be it about roles, intimacy, or the merits of starting a teen combat group. Plus, by the end the latest eight-part show titled I Love LA, it becomes obvious that she carries additional thoughts regarding the darker side of young adulthood (As a millennial, Sennott represents a relatable figure to younger audiences, a tale-end millennial skilled for straddling millennials and Gen Z).

Influences and Artistic Direction

Parallels to the iconic series Girls naturally arise and the actress admits to being a fan, citing it together with the classic series, the acclaimed comedy and the innovative program as influences for the project, which tracks the struggles of online personality Tallulah and ally who is also aspiring agent portrayed by Sennott. Notably, the largest spot on the moodboard went to the HBO series, the show about an emerging A-list actor succeeding in a gritty entertainment industry (choice quote: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott began viewing it throughout COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and resolved to put her own twist on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she explains. The inspiration for this project emerged—in part—from firsthand, originally fractious, transition to Tinseltown and from the saturn return, a frequently discussed event for astrology heads. This represented a phase that involved her learn major life lessons, professionally and personally. “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 was almost like these biblical tests …”

Humble Origins

Growing up in Connecticut, Sennott commenced developing and showcasing comedy while enrolled in acting at New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she explains. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “None of the university plays cast me either.” “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”

Sennott seized control, appearing at amateur nights with Ayo and sharing uproarious (and distinctly) bizarre online content online. A particular video, Baby Cult, depicted characters obsessively obsessed with pregnancy; a different one envisioned working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being caught in a scary movie. By chance, she met Seligman through NYU’s movie community and eventually appearing in her initial project, Shiva Baby, a tense film set at a funeral gathering with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her path, she notes, has been peers giving her a shot, rather than traditional networks. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Definitely not them”, she repeats, stating amusedly: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Rising Success

Individuals who questioned about Sennott previously will likely be regretting it now. In what she describes as a “incredibly circular” turn of events, she appears to manifested an ideal role. A few years back she posted a video called “it’s LA” online, in which she parodied movie previews (“Substance abuse is rampant here”). Six years on, she’s executive producer (with the co-writer) of a series about city dwellers balancing advantages of online celebrity (such as socializing at Elijah Wood’s house) with drawbacks (your client being labeled as being a intoxicated thief, and potentially becoming a risky persona non grata). It would be simple to produce a show about online fame that was extremely idealized—or, more problematic, one that punched down at those depicted. This show steers clear of each, making for a depiction of affluent millennial life that’s frank about the grot and the appeal.

Balanced Perspective

“There have been a lot of shows that depict young people and their relationship to the internet in this very condescending, hateful way,” 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