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Rachel Sennott enters the digital interview and at once begins an excuse. “Apologies for the delay!” she says, sounding genuinely remorseful. She is only a bit delayed, she wants 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!” Thankfully, in this context, that’s exactly what one hopes to encounter. Besides, it’s pretty expected. Anyone who have seen the fearlessly queer and unapologetically crass project titled Bottoms—that Sennott penned with Emma Seligman and starred in together with collaborator The Bear’s standout—can understand that she possesses a lot to say, whether on identity, relationships, or the appeal of creating a teen combat group. And, after watching the recent eight-part show titled I Love LA, it is clear that the star has even more insights about the challenges of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, Sennott serves as a bridge of the gang, on the cusp skilled for bridging different age groups).

Inspirations and Creative Vision

The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show can’t be avoided and the actress readily acknowledges a fan, citing it alongside Sex and the City, Issa Rae’s show and Donald Glover’s series as influences for the project, which details the journey of an influencer Tallulah and ally and fledgling talent manager Sennott’s character. Perhaps, the largest presence on creative vision was reserved for Entourage, the show depicting a rising A-list actor succeeding in a corrupt entertainment industry (notable statement: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott started watching it amid lockdown, became “obsessed”, and chose to put her own twist on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“My aim was to focus on digital fame over traditional entertainment, as my own beginnings were on the web,” she explains. The inspiration for I Love LA originated—partly—from her own, originally difficult, transition to LA and from her astrological phase, a popular phenomenon for astrology heads. This represented a phase that saw her grasp significant insights, professionally 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 resembled a series of extreme challenges…”

Humble Origins

Raised in Connecticut, Sennott started creating and acting stand-up 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. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “None of the university plays cast me either.” “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”

She seized control, appearing at open mics with her friend and posting hysterical (and very) unconventional online content digitally. A particular video, Baby Cult, followed several females obsessively fixated on pregnancy; a different one envisioned being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as akin to being stuck in a horror film. In a neat twist of fate, she met Emma through the university’s film scene and ultimately starring in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, an anxious dramedy set at a funeral gathering with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her career, she explains, has been people her own age supporting her, instead of established gatekeepers. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “They were not involved”, she repeats, adding humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Career Breakthrough

Individuals who had doubts regarding Sennott then will likely be feeling foolish now. Through she labels a “wild, full-circle” development, she appears to created an ideal role. Previously she shared a clip named about Los Angeles on social media, in which she mocked film promos (“Substance abuse is rampant here”). Six years on, she’s a lead creator (with her partner) of a series about city dwellers juggling benefits of internet fame (such as celebrating at Elijah Wood’s house) with its pitfalls (your client being labeled as being a substance-abusing stealer, and potentially becoming a “brand unsafe” persona non grata). Some could easy to make a show about internet celebrity that was extremely aspirational—or, even less favorable, one that punched down at its subjects. The series avoids both, creating a depiction of privileged millennial life that’s candid about the grot and the appeal.

Empathetic Approach

“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