The actress and writer discussing her side-splitting show portraying the grotty appeal of younger generation life

Rachel Sennott enters the digital interview and right away launches into an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she exclaims, sounding truly regretful. Despite being only a couple of minutes delayed, she needs to justify. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Fortunately, for a writer, this is precisely what is ideal to hear. Besides, it’s pretty unsurprising. Those who know the boldly openly gay and unapologetically crass film Bottoms—that Sennott penned with the director and appeared in alongside collaborator Ayo Edebiri—can be aware that she holds plenty to say, ranging from on roles, relationships, or the merits of starting a high-school brawl society. Plus, after watching her new eight-part HBO series I Love LA, it is clear that the star holds further perspectives regarding the challenges of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, she represents a bridge of the gang, straddling eras skilled for bridging both generations).

Inspirations and Storytelling Approach

Parallels to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show naturally arise and Sennott readily acknowledges enthusiastic, naming the show alongside the HBO hit, Insecure and the innovative program as inspirations for her series, which follows the journey of online personality Tallulah and ally who is also fledgling representative portrayed by Sennott. However, the most significant presence on concept was reserved for the popular sitcom, the HBO sitcom depicting an emerging A-list actor navigating in an often-seedy Hollywood (notable statement: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott discovered it amid COVID-19, became “hooked”, and resolved to put her own twist on it “for the girls and the gays”.

“My aim was to focus on digital fame over traditional entertainment, as my own beginnings were on the web,” she says. The concept for I Love LA emerged—in part—from firsthand, initially rocky, relocation to LA and from her astrological phase, a much-talked-about event for followers. That period marked a time that involved her learn major truths, in her career and in private life. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” 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

Brought up in Connecticut, Sennott started writing and performing humor while pursuing theatre at a prestigious arts school. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” 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 seized control, appearing at live shows with her friend and posting hysterical (and decidedly) bizarre skits on the internet. One, Baby Cult, depicted several females intensely fixated on pregnancy; a different one imagined being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being caught in a thriller. In a neat twist of fate, she met Emma through campus film circles and eventually appearing in her directorial debut, Shiva Baby, a tense film set at a religious event with shades of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her path, she explains, has been peers supporting her, as opposed to the industry at large. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “They were not involved”, she confirms, adding with a laugh: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”

Rising Success

Anyone who were skeptical regarding her earlier will likely be regretting it now. As part of she describes as a “wild, full-circle” development, she seems to have achieved the perfect project. In 2019 she posted a video titled “it’s LA” on social media, in which she lampooned Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Years later, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a show about Angelenos managing benefits of online celebrity (such as partying at a celebrity’s house) with downsides (your associate being labeled as being a intoxicated stealer, and potentially becoming a “brand unsafe” outcast). One might simple to produce a series about internet celebrity that was horribly aspirational—or, even less favorable, one that punched down at those depicted. The series does neither, resulting in a depiction of advantaged millennial life that’s honest about the mess and the appeal.

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

Katherine Salas
Katherine Salas

A passionate music journalist with over a decade of experience covering the UK music scene and discovering new talent.