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Rachel Sennott appears on the digital interview and immediately starts an explanation. “Apologies for the delay!” she exclaims, seeming genuinely apologetic. Despite being only a couple of minutes delayed, she wants to justify. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Luckily, in this context, that’s just what you want to encounter. Additionally, it’s pretty unsurprising. Anyone familiar with her boldly openly gay and unapologetically crass film titled Bottoms—which Sennott co-wrote with the director and starred in together with collaborator the talented actress—will be aware that Sennott has plenty to say, whether about identity, relationships, or the merits of forming a youth combat group. Plus, by the end the new eight-part HBO series titled I Love LA, it is clear that she has further insights on the darker side of Gen Z life (At 30, Sennott serves as a relatable figure for this generation, on the cusp adept for bridging different age groups).

Guiding Lights and Storytelling Approach

Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show naturally arise and the actress is a fan, citing the show alongside the HBO hit, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as influences for the project, which tracks the struggles of an influencer Tallulah and close companion who is also fledgling agent Sennott’s character. However, the biggest presence on the moodboard went to the popular sitcom, the program about an up-and-coming celebrity navigating in a gritty entertainment industry (choice quote: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). She began viewing it amid COVID-19, became “hooked”, and decided 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 this project originated—partly—from personal, initially difficult, relocation to LA and from her saturn return, a frequently discussed event for enthusiasts. It was an era that involved her understand significant life lessons, in her career and in private life. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she admits. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “It resembled a series of extreme challenges…”

Starting Out

Brought up in New England, the star began developing and showcasing humor while pursuing theatre at a prestigious arts school. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she states. “I tried out for all the NYU comedy groups, and got rejected from all of them. I tried out for all the NYU plays and didn’t make it into any of them. “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”

Sennott decided to act independently, performing at open mics with Edebiri and sharing hilarious (and distinctly) bizarre online content on the internet. A particular video, Baby Cult, centered on several females intensely drawn to motherhood; a different one portrayed working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being stuck in a horror film. Interestingly, she encountered Emma through NYU’s movie community and eventually appearing in her first film, titled Shiva Baby, an anxious film set at a religious event with hints of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The central motif of her journey, she notes, has been people her own age offering opportunities, rather than traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “Definitely not them”, she emphasizes, adding humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Manifesting Dreams

Those who had doubts regarding her then will certainly be feeling foolish now. As part of she describes as a “incredibly circular” turn of events, she seems to have achieved her dream vehicle. In 2019 she shared a clip called about Los Angeles online, in which she mocked film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s the co-showrunner (with the co-writer) of a show about Angelenos balancing the perks of internet fame (such as socializing at a celebrity’s house) with downsides (your associate being accused of being a substance-abusing stealer, and possibly becoming a unreliable persona non grata). One might tempting to produce a show about internet celebrity that was extremely idealized—or, worse, one that punched down at the characters. The series steers clear of each, making for a depiction of affluent twentysomething existence that’s frank about the chaos and the glamour.

Balanced Perspective

“Many programs portray youth and online life with disdain and mockery,” she says. “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