The actress and writer on her hilarious show depicting the messy appeal of today's youth existence
Rachel Sennott joins the video call and immediately starts an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she says, appearing genuinely apologetic. Despite being only slightly behind, she needs to justify. “I tend to talk too much during calls. I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Fortunately, for a writer, that’s precisely what is ideal to hear. Moreover, it’s quite predictable. Viewers familiar with her boldly LGBTQ+ and unapologetically crass project Bottoms—that Sennott penned with the director and starred in together with close companion Ayo Edebiri—can understand that Sennott has plenty to share, be it about roles, intimacy, or the merits of starting a teen combat group. Furthermore, once you finish the latest seasonal HBO series titled I Love LA, viewers realize that she holds even more perspectives about the struggles of Gen Z life (At 30, Sennott represents a relatable figure to younger audiences, a tale-end millennial adept for straddling different age groups).
Guiding Lights and Artistic Direction
Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s Girls naturally arise and the actress readily acknowledges an admirer, citing the show in addition to the classic series, the acclaimed comedy and the innovative program as influences for her series, which tracks the struggles of online personality Tallulah and her friend who is also new talent manager portrayed by Sennott. However, the biggest presence on the moodboard belonged to Entourage, the program focusing on an emerging Hollywood star succeeding in a corrupt LA scene (choice quote: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). She began viewing it during the pandemic, became “hooked”, and chose to create a new version on it “with female and queer audiences in mind”.
“I wanted to make a show where the internet, not Hollywood, was the industry, because my career started online,” she says. The inspiration for I Love LA emerged—partly—from firsthand, originally difficult, move to LA and from her saturn return, a frequently discussed event for followers. This represented a time that included her grasp some big life lessons, professionally and personally. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she admits. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”
Humble Origins
Growing up in the East Coast, the star commenced writing and performing stand-up while studying theatre at New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” she states. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “None of the university plays cast me either.” “I wondered why I was even there at all.”
Sennott took matters into her own hands, performing at open mics with Ayo and posting uproarious (and decidedly) unconventional comedy videos digitally. A particular video, titled Baby Cult, followed characters intensely drawn to pregnancy; another portrayed working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being trapped in a thriller. In a neat twist of fate, she met Emma through the university’s film scene and ended up featuring in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, an anxious film set at a funeral gathering with hints of the intense thriller. The big theme of her career, she notes, has been peers giving her a shot, instead of traditional networks. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Not the gatekeepers”, she confirms, continuing amusedly: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Career Breakthrough
Individuals who were skeptical regarding her then will surely be regretting it today. Through she describes as a “wild, full-circle” story, she seems to have created the perfect project. A few years back she posted a video titled about Los Angeles on social media, in which she parodied film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s a lead creator (with Emma Barrie) of a series about city dwellers juggling advantages of internet fame (such as partying at a famous actor’s house) with drawbacks (your client being accused of being a drug-addled thief, and perhaps becoming a risky outcast). It would be tempting to produce a show about digital influence that was extremely glamorous—or, even less favorable, one that mocked at those depicted. The series steers clear of each, creating a depiction of advantaged young adult life that’s honest about the chaos and the shine.
Nuanced Portrayal
“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” 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
