Rachel Sennott enters the online meeting and right away starts an apology. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she exclaims, appearing really remorseful. She is only a bit behind, she feels compelled to justify. “I tend to talk too much during calls. I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Fortunately, during an interview, that’s just what you want to hear. Moreover, it’s quite unsurprising. Those who have seen her boldly openly gay and outspoken movie Bottoms—which Sennott collaborated on with her creative partner and featured in with close companion The Bear’s standout—would already know that Sennott holds plenty to share, ranging from on gender, relationships, or the appeal of creating a high-school fight club. Plus, after watching the new seasonal HBO series I Love LA, viewers realize that the star has further insights about the struggles of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, she represents a bridge to younger audiences, straddling eras adept for bridging both generations).
Influences and Creative Vision
Likenesses to the iconic series Girls can’t be avoided and the actress admits to being a fan, referencing it in addition to the HBO hit, Insecure and Donald Glover’s series as influences for her series, which follows the struggles of an influencer played by Odessa A’Zion and close companion and new agent Maia. Perhaps, the most significant spot on the moodboard belonged to Entourage, the show focusing on an emerging Hollywood star navigating in a corrupt Hollywood (choice quote: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott discovered it throughout COVID-19, became “hooked”, and decided to add a fresh perspective on it “with female and queer audiences in mind”.
“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she says. The idea for this project emerged—partly—from personal, initially difficult, move to LA and from her saturn return, a much-talked-about occurrence for followers. That period marked a time that involved her learn significant life lessons, in her career 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. It was almost like these biblical tests …”
Early Beginnings
Growing up in Connecticut, Sennott started creating and acting comedy while pursuing acting at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she says. “I tried out for all the NYU comedy groups, and got rejected from all of them. “None of the university plays cast me either.” “I wondered why I was even there at all.”
She decided to act independently, performing at live shows with Edebiri and posting hysterical (and distinctly) weird comedy videos on the internet. One, titled Baby Cult, depicted characters obsessively drawn to having babies; a different one envisioned being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being trapped in a scary movie. In a neat twist of fate, she met Emma through NYU’s movie community and eventually starring in her first film, Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a funeral gathering with shades of Uncut Gems. A recurring idea of her journey, she says, has been people her own age offering opportunities, rather than the industry at large. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “They were not involved”, she confirms, adding humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Manifesting Dreams
Individuals who were skeptical about her previously will surely be feeling foolish currently. Through she labels a “incredibly circular” development, she has created her dream vehicle. A few years back she posted a clip named about Los Angeles on social media, in which she mocked film promos (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Now, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a show about city dwellers balancing the perks of internet fame (such as celebrating at a famous actor’s house) with downsides (your friend being accused of being a drug-addled criminal, and perhaps becoming a “brand unsafe” persona non grata). Some could simple to produce a show about online fame that was overly aspirational—or, worse, one that mocked at its subjects. The series avoids both, making for a representation of advantaged young adult life that’s candid about the mess and the appeal.
Nuanced Portrayal
“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
