Rachel Sennott enters the online meeting and immediately starts an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she exclaims, sounding truly apologetic. Although she's only a bit late, she wants to clarify. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Fortunately, during an interview, this is precisely what is ideal to encounter. Moreover, it’s fairly unsurprising. Viewers who have seen the boldly queer and brash project Bottoms—that she co-wrote with the director and featured in alongside collaborator The Bear’s standout—would understand that she possesses plenty to say, be it on gender, sex, or the merits of forming a teen brawl society. Plus, after watching her new seasonal show titled I Love LA, it becomes obvious that she has further thoughts regarding the struggles of Gen Z life (Now in her thirties, she represents a bridge for this generation, a tale-end millennial skilled for connecting millennials and Gen Z).
Influences and Storytelling Approach
The comparisons to the iconic series Girls naturally arise and the actress admits to being an admirer, citing it alongside the HBO hit, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as influences for the project, which follows the journey of online personality played by Odessa A’Zion and ally who is also aspiring agent portrayed by Sennott. Perhaps, the largest influence on the moodboard was reserved for the HBO series, the HBO sitcom depicting an up-and-coming celebrity succeeding in a corrupt Hollywood (memorable line: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). She started watching it throughout lockdown, became “hooked”, and decided to add a fresh perspective 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 concept for the series came—partly—from firsthand, at first fractious, transition to Los Angeles and from the astrological phase, a popular event for enthusiasts. It was an era that included her grasp significant truths, work-wise and individually. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she says. “After relocating to Los Angeles in my mid-twenties, I found stability, only for things to crumble. It was almost like these biblical tests …”
Starting Out
Growing up in New England, the star began creating and acting stand-up while enrolled in theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “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. “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “I wondered why I was even there at all.”
Sennott took matters into her own hands, appearing at open mics with her friend and sharing hilarious (and very) unconventional online content digitally. A particular video, Baby Cult, followed characters intensely drawn to having babies; another envisioned being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as akin to being stuck in a thriller. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through the university’s film scene and ended up featuring in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, an anxious dramedy set at a funeral gathering with shades of the Safdie brothers’ movie. A recurring idea of her journey, she says, has been peers giving her a shot, rather than established gatekeepers. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “They were not involved”, she repeats, stating with a laugh: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Rising Success
Individuals who were skeptical about her then will surely be regretting it now. Through she labels a “astonishingly complete” story, she has achieved the perfect project. Previously she shared content titled about Los Angeles online, in which she lampooned Hollywood trailers (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s executive producer (with the co-writer) of a series about city dwellers balancing the perks of digital stardom (such as partying at Elijah Wood’s house) with drawbacks (your associate being labeled as being a intoxicated stealer, and potentially becoming a unreliable persona non grata). Some could simple to create a show about digital influence that was extremely aspirational—or, worse, one that punched down at those depicted. This show avoids both, creating a representation of privileged millennial existence that’s frank about the chaos and the glamour.
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
