Rachel Sennott discussing her uproarious show portraying that grotty glamour of Gen Z life

The star joins the video call and right away launches into an excuse. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she says, appearing really regretful. Despite being only a couple of minutes late, she needs to explain. “My phone conversations always run long.” “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Thankfully, during an interview, this is precisely what you want to experience. Moreover, it’s fairly unsurprising. Those who know her fearlessly LGBTQ+ and unapologetically crass project titled Bottoms—which she co-wrote with her creative partner and starred in together with close companion the talented actress—will be aware that Sennott holds much to say, ranging from about roles, sex, or the pros of creating a high-school brawl society. Plus, by the end her latest seasonal HBO series I Love LA, it is clear that she holds further thoughts about the challenges of modern youth (Now in her thirties, Sennott serves as a bridge to younger audiences, on the cusp with a knack for straddling different age groups).

Guiding Lights and Storytelling Approach

The comparisons to the iconic series Girls can’t be avoided and the actress admits to being enthusiastic, naming the show in addition to Sex and the City, the acclaimed comedy and Atlanta as guides for I Love LA, which details the journey of an influencer played by Odessa A’Zion and ally who is also aspiring agent portrayed by Sennott. Perhaps, the largest presence on creative vision went to the HBO series, the HBO sitcom focusing on a rising A-list actor succeeding in a corrupt Hollywood (memorable line: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). She began viewing it during COVID-19, became “hooked”, and chose 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 explains. The idea for I Love LA emerged—partly—from her own, originally rocky, move to LA and from her cosmic event, a popular occurrence for enthusiasts. It was a time that saw her learn significant life lessons, work-wise and individually. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she admits. “In my mid-20s, I moved to LA and got settled. And then I felt like everything started to just fall apart. “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”

Early Beginnings

Growing up in the East Coast, the star commenced writing and performing comedy while pursuing theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she states. “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. And I just felt like, what am I doing here?”

She decided to act independently, taking the stage at live shows with Ayo and posting hysterical (and distinctly) bizarre skits online. One, titled Baby Cult, followed characters intensely drawn to having babies; another portrayed being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being stuck in a horror film. Interestingly, she met Seligman through NYU’s movie community and ultimately starring in her initial project, Shiva Baby, an anxious dramedy set at a religious event with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her career, she explains, has been peers supporting her, rather than the industry at large. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Definitely not them”, she confirms, stating with a laugh: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Career Breakthrough

Individuals who questioned about Sennott then will surely be kicking themselves now. Through she calls a “incredibly circular” development, she has created her dream vehicle. Previously she shared a clip named “it’s LA” on social media, in which she lampooned film promos (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Years later, she’s a lead creator (with the co-writer) of a series about city dwellers balancing the perks of internet fame (such as partying at a celebrity’s house) with its pitfalls (your friend being accused of being a intoxicated thief, and potentially becoming a risky pariah). Some could tempting to create a series about online fame that was overly aspirational—or, worse, one that punched down at its subjects. The series steers clear of each, creating a depiction of privileged young adult existence that’s candid about the chaos and the shine.

Nuanced Portrayal

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

Jeremy Butler
Jeremy Butler

Jamie is a digital marketing strategist with over a decade of experience in SEO and content creation, passionate about helping brands succeed online.