Rachel Sennott appears on the digital interview and right away begins an explanation. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she exclaims, appearing genuinely apologetic. She is only a couple of minutes late, she needs 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, for a writer, that’s precisely what you want to encounter. Additionally, it’s pretty predictable. Those who have seen the fearlessly LGBTQ+ and unapologetically crass project titled Bottoms—that Sennott penned with the director and starred in with her friend the talented actress—will understand that she has a lot to discuss, whether on roles, intimacy, or the pros of creating a youth brawl society. Furthermore, once you finish the latest multi-episode program I Love LA, it becomes obvious that the star has even more insights on the challenges of young adulthood (At 30, Sennott represents a relatable figure for this generation, on the cusp adept for bridging different age groups).
Influences and Creative Vision
The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s Girls naturally arise and Sennott admits to being an admirer, citing the show alongside Sex and the City, the acclaimed comedy and Donald Glover’s series as influences for the project, which tracks the struggles of online personality Tallulah and ally who is also fledgling talent manager Maia. Perhaps, the largest spot on the moodboard went to Entourage, that program focusing on an up-and-coming celebrity succeeding in a corrupt entertainment industry (notable statement: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott started watching it amid lockdown, became “captivated”, and decided to add a fresh perspective on it “for the girls and the gays”.
“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she says. The inspiration for the series emerged—in part—from firsthand, initially rocky, transition to Los Angeles and from her astrological phase, a frequently discussed occurrence for enthusiasts. It was a time that included her learn major insights, work-wise and individually. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she recalls. “In my mid-20s, I moved to LA and got settled. And then I felt like everything started to just fall apart. “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”
Early Beginnings
Brought up in the East Coast, Sennott started creating and acting comedy while pursuing theatre at New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she states. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. “None of the university plays cast me either.” And I just felt like, what am I doing here?”
Sennott decided to act independently, taking the stage at live shows with Ayo and uploading uproarious (and very) weird skits on the internet. One, Baby Cult, centered on a group of women fetishistically drawn to pregnancy; a different one portrayed working at a trendy retail outlet as akin to being stuck in a horror film. Interestingly, she met Emma through the university’s film scene and eventually starring in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a religious event with echoes of the intense thriller. A recurring idea of her career, she explains, has been people her own age supporting her, instead of traditional networks. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “Definitely not them”, she repeats, adding amusedly: “They don’t want us to win.”
Career Breakthrough
Anyone who questioned regarding Sennott previously will certainly be kicking themselves currently. Through she calls a “incredibly circular” story, she seems to have manifested her dream vehicle. A few years back she uploaded a clip titled “it’s LA” online, in which she mocked Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Six years on, she’s executive producer (with Emma Barrie) of a comedy about Angelenos managing advantages of internet fame (such as celebrating at a famous actor’s house) with its pitfalls (your friend being suspected of being a substance-abusing stealer, and perhaps becoming a risky outcast). It would be tempting to produce a program about digital influence that was overly glamorous—or, worse, one that belittled at its subjects. The series steers clear of each, resulting in a portrait of affluent young adult living that’s honest about the mess and the appeal.
Nuanced Portrayal
“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
