Rachel Sennott discussing the hilarious series portraying that chaotic appeal of today's youth existence

The star joins the video call and immediately starts an apology. “Apologies for the delay!” she says, seeming genuinely apologetic. She is only a bit behind, she feels compelled to clarify. “My phone conversations always run long.” “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Fortunately, in this context, this is just what you want to encounter. Additionally, it’s fairly unsurprising. Anyone who know the boldly LGBTQ+ and outspoken project Bottoms—that she collaborated on with the director and appeared in alongside her friend the talented actress—can already know that Sennott possesses a lot to share, whether about roles, sex, or the appeal of starting a youth fight club. Plus, by the end the new eight-part program I Love LA, it is clear that the star carries additional insights on the darker side of Gen Z life (As a millennial, Sennott serves as a relatable figure for this generation, a tale-end millennial skilled for straddling different age groups).

Inspirations and Creative Vision

Parallels to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show naturally arise and the actress admits to being a fan, naming it together with Sex and the City, the acclaimed comedy and Donald Glover’s series as inspirations for the project, which tracks the journey of a social media star Tallulah and close companion who is also aspiring talent manager Sennott’s character. Notably, the biggest influence on creative vision went to the HBO series, that program about a rising A-list actor navigating in a gritty Hollywood (notable statement: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). She began viewing it amid the pandemic, became “hooked”, and decided to add a fresh perspective on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“I wanted to make a show where the internet, not Hollywood, was the industry, because my career started online,” she says. The concept for this project emerged—to some extent—from firsthand, originally difficult, relocation to LA and from her saturn return, a much-talked-about occurrence for followers. This represented a phase that involved her grasp some big life lessons, work-wise and in private life. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she recalls. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “It resembled a series of extreme challenges…”

Starting Out

Brought up in Connecticut, Sennott began creating and acting stand-up while enrolled in theatre at a prestigious arts school. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she says. “I tried out for all the NYU comedy groups, and got rejected from all of them. “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”

She seized control, taking the stage at live shows with Ayo and uploading hilarious (and distinctly) bizarre online content digitally. A particular video, Baby Cult, followed characters fetishistically drawn to motherhood; another imagined being employed at the brand Hollister as similar to being trapped in a thriller. Interestingly, she encountered Emma through campus film circles and ended up starring in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, a tense dramedy set at a Jewish wake with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. A recurring idea of her journey, she says, has been people her own age giving her a shot, as opposed to the industry at large. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Definitely not them”, she emphasizes, continuing amusedly: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Rising Success

Those who were skeptical regarding her then will certainly be feeling foolish now. In what she labels a “astonishingly complete” development, she seems to have achieved an ideal role. In 2019 she posted content called “it’s LA” online, in which she mocked film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Six years on, she’s a lead creator (with Emma Barrie) of a series about Angelenos managing the perks of digital stardom (such as socializing at Elijah Wood’s house) with drawbacks (your friend being suspected of being a drug-addled thief, and potentially becoming a risky pariah). One might tempting to create a series about online fame that was overly glamorous—or, more problematic, one that punched down at the characters. This show steers clear of each, creating a portrait of affluent millennial living that’s honest about the chaos and the glamour.

Balanced Perspective

“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” 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

Loretta Smith
Loretta Smith

Eleanor is a British lifestyle journalist with a passion for exploring the quirks of UK culture and sharing insider tips.