Rachel Sennott joins the video call and at once launches into an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she states, sounding truly remorseful. Despite being only slightly behind, she feels compelled to explain. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Thankfully, in this context, that’s exactly what is ideal to experience. Moreover, it’s pretty unsurprising. Those who know her fearlessly queer and brash film titled Bottoms—that Sennott penned with her creative partner and starred in together with her friend The Bear’s standout—will be aware that she possesses much to say, whether about gender, relationships, or the pros of starting a youth combat group. Plus, after watching her latest seasonal program I Love LA, it is clear that the star holds even more perspectives regarding the darker side of Gen Z life (At 30, Sennott serves as an honorary member of the gang, on the cusp adept for bridging different age groups).
Influences and Creative Vision
The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show are inevitable and the actress is an admirer, referencing it in addition to Sex and the City, Insecure and the innovative program as influences for her series, which details the journey of online personality Tallulah and her friend and new agent Maia. Perhaps, the most significant influence on the moodboard belonged to Entourage, the HBO sitcom focusing on an emerging A-list actor succeeding in a gritty Hollywood (notable statement: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott began viewing it during COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and decided to add a fresh perspective 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 notes. The concept for this project originated—in part—from her own, originally difficult, move to Tinseltown and from the cosmic event, a popular phenomenon for enthusiasts. This represented an era that saw her learn some big life lessons, work-wise and in private life. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she recalls. “In my mid-20s, I moved to LA and got settled. And then I felt like everything started to just fall apart. It was almost like these biblical tests …”
Early Beginnings
Growing up in New England, Sennott started developing and showcasing humor while studying acting at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she says. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. I tried out for all the NYU plays and didn’t make it into any of them. “I wondered why I was even there at all.”
Sennott decided to act independently, appearing at live shows with Ayo and uploading hilarious (and distinctly) weird online content digitally. One, Baby Cult, depicted several females fetishistically obsessed with motherhood; a different one envisioned working at a trendy retail outlet as akin to being stuck in a thriller. Interestingly, she connected with Emma through campus film circles and ended up featuring in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful film set at a religious event with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her path, she explains, has been contemporaries offering opportunities, as opposed to traditional networks. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Definitely not them”, she emphasizes, adding amusedly: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Rising Success
Those who had doubts regarding Sennott previously will certainly be kicking themselves today. Through she describes as a “astonishingly complete” turn of events, she appears to achieved an ideal role. Previously she posted a video named about Los Angeles on social media, in which she lampooned Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Six years on, she’s a lead creator (with the co-writer) of a show about Angelenos juggling the perks of digital stardom (such as celebrating at Elijah Wood’s house) with downsides (your client being labeled as being a intoxicated thief, and possibly becoming a “brand unsafe” outcast). It would be simple to create a program about internet celebrity that was overly glamorous—or, more problematic, one that mocked at the characters. This show avoids both, creating a depiction of advantaged twentysomething living that’s frank about the mess and the shine.
Nuanced Portrayal
“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” 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
