Rachel Sennott discussing the uproarious series portraying the grotty allure of Gen Z life

The performer appears on the digital interview and immediately starts an excuse. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she states, appearing truly remorseful. She is only a bit delayed, she needs to explain. “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, during an interview, that’s just what one hopes to encounter. Additionally, it’s quite expected. Those who know the unapologetically openly gay and brash movie Bottoms—that she collaborated on with Emma Seligman and starred in alongside close companion Ayo Edebiri—would already know that Sennott holds much to share, ranging from on identity, intimacy, or the merits of creating a teen fight club. Furthermore, after watching the recent seasonal show titled I Love LA, it becomes obvious that the star holds even more insights about the struggles of young adulthood (At 30, Sennott is a relatable figure for this generation, on the cusp skilled for bridging both generations).

Guiding Lights and Artistic Direction

Parallels to the iconic series Girls can’t be avoided and the actress admits to being a fan, referencing the show together with Sex and the City, Issa Rae’s show and Atlanta as influences for I Love LA, which details the struggles of an influencer Tallulah and her friend and fledgling representative portrayed by Sennott. Perhaps, the most significant spot on the moodboard belonged to Entourage, that program depicting an up-and-coming Hollywood star succeeding in an often-seedy entertainment industry (memorable line: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). She started watching it during lockdown, became “hooked”, and chose to create a new version on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she says. The idea for this project originated—partly—from personal, initially difficult, transition to LA and from her saturn return, a frequently discussed phenomenon for enthusiasts. It was a time that included her understand some big insights, work-wise and individually. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she admits. “After relocating to Los Angeles in my mid-twenties, I found stability, only for things to crumble. “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”

Starting Out

Raised in the East Coast, Sennott began developing and showcasing comedy while studying performance at NYU’s Tisch. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” 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.”

Sennott decided to act independently, performing at amateur nights with her friend and sharing uproarious (and very) bizarre skits on the internet. A particular video, Baby Cult, followed characters obsessively fixated on motherhood; another imagined being employed at a trendy retail outlet as akin to being stuck in a horror film. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Emma through campus film circles and ended up starring in her first film, Shiva Baby, an anxious dramedy set at a religious event with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The central motif of her path, she explains, has been people her own age supporting her, rather than traditional networks. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “Definitely not them”, she repeats, stating with a laugh: “They don’t want us to win.”

Career Breakthrough

Individuals who questioned regarding her previously will likely be regretting it currently. In what she labels a “astonishingly complete” turn of events, she has achieved an ideal role. Previously she uploaded content titled on LA life on the internet, in which she lampooned Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Years later, she’s a lead creator (with Emma Barrie) of a series about LA residents juggling the perks of internet fame (such as partying at a famous actor’s house) with its pitfalls (your client being accused of being a intoxicated stealer, and potentially becoming a risky persona non grata). Some could simple to create a program about digital influence that was overly idealized—or, even less favorable, one that punched down at its subjects. I Love LA avoids both, making for a portrait of advantaged millennial life that’s frank about the grot and the glamour.

Balanced Perspective

“Many programs portray youth and online life with disdain and mockery,” 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

Anthony Martin
Anthony Martin

A seasoned tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering global innovation and digital transformation trends.