Rachel Sennott enters the online meeting and immediately launches into an excuse. “Apologies for the delay!” she says, sounding truly apologetic. Although she's 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!” Thankfully, during an interview, this is precisely what is ideal to experience. Moreover, it’s pretty predictable. Viewers who know the boldly queer and brash project Bottoms—which Sennott collaborated on with the director and featured in together with collaborator the talented actress—would be aware that she has a lot to discuss, be it on roles, intimacy, or the pros of forming a high-school fight club. Furthermore, after watching her new multi-episode program I Love LA, it becomes obvious that the star holds even more insights on the challenges of modern youth (Now in her thirties, Sennott represents an honorary member to younger audiences, a tale-end millennial adept for bridging both generations).
Guiding Lights and Storytelling Approach
Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show are inevitable and Sennott is an admirer, naming the show together with the classic series, the acclaimed comedy and Atlanta as influences for her series, which follows the travails of a social media star Tallulah and her friend who is also aspiring agent portrayed by Sennott. However, the largest spot on the moodboard was reserved for the popular sitcom, that show depicting an up-and-coming A-list actor succeeding in an often-seedy entertainment industry (notable statement: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott began viewing it during COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and chose to add a fresh perspective on it “with female and queer audiences in mind”.
“My aim was to focus on digital fame over traditional entertainment, as my own beginnings were on the web,” she explains. The concept for I Love LA originated—to some extent—from her own, at first rocky, transition to Tinseltown and from her astrological phase, a popular event for followers. It was a phase that involved her understand significant truths, in her career and individually. “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.” “It resembled a series of extreme challenges…”
Starting Out
Raised in Connecticut, the star commenced writing and performing humor while studying acting at a prestigious arts school. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she says. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. “None of the university plays cast me either.” “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”
Sennott took matters into her own hands, appearing at live shows with her friend and uploading hysterical (and very) bizarre comedy videos digitally. A particular video, titled Baby Cult, followed characters fetishistically obsessed with having babies; a different one portrayed working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as like being caught in a scary movie. In a neat twist of fate, she met Emma through campus film circles and ended up starring in her directorial debut, Shiva Baby, a stressful comedy set at a religious event with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her career, she explains, has been peers giving her a shot, instead of traditional networks. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “They were not involved”, she confirms, stating humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Career Breakthrough
Anyone who had doubts about her earlier will likely be regretting it today. As part of she calls a “incredibly circular” story, she appears to created an ideal role. A few years back she uploaded content named “it’s LA” on the internet, in which she parodied Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Six years on, she’s executive producer (with the co-writer) of a show about Angelenos juggling the perks of internet fame (such as celebrating at a famous actor’s house) with its pitfalls (your friend being suspected of being a drug-addled stealer, and potentially becoming a risky pariah). Some could tempting to make a program about online fame that was overly glamorous—or, even less favorable, one that belittled at the characters. The series does neither, resulting in a portrait of privileged young adult life 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
