Rachel Sennott discussing the uproarious show about the messy glamour of Gen Z existence

Rachel Sennott appears on the digital interview and at once starts an apology. “Apologies for the delay!” she says, sounding genuinely apologetic. She is only a bit late, she wants to explain. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Thankfully, in this context, that’s exactly what one hopes to experience. Additionally, it’s pretty predictable. Anyone who know the boldly LGBTQ+ and outspoken project titled Bottoms—that she penned with the director and starred in with her friend The Bear’s standout—will be aware that she possesses plenty to discuss, whether on roles, sex, or the merits of forming a youth brawl society. Plus, by the end her latest multi-episode program I Love LA, viewers realize that the star has even more thoughts about the darker side of Gen Z life (Now in her thirties, Sennott represents a relatable figure of the gang, a tale-end millennial with a knack for straddling millennials and Gen Z).

Guiding Lights and Artistic Direction

The comparisons to the iconic series Girls are inevitable and the actress admits to being an admirer, citing the show in addition to the classic series, the acclaimed comedy and the innovative program as influences for her series, which details the travails of a social media star Tallulah and close companion who is also new talent manager portrayed by Sennott. Perhaps, the largest spot on creative vision went to the popular sitcom, that program focusing on an up-and-coming celebrity navigating in a gritty entertainment industry (memorable line: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott began viewing it throughout COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and decided to add a fresh perspective on it “with female and queer audiences in mind”.

“My aim was to focus on digital fame over traditional entertainment, as my own beginnings were on the web,” she notes. The idea for I Love LA came—partly—from her own, at first rocky, relocation to LA and from the cosmic event, a much-talked-about phenomenon for enthusiasts. This represented a phase that saw her grasp major life lessons, professionally and individually. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she admits. “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 …”

Starting Out

Raised in New England, the star began developing and showcasing comedy while pursuing acting at New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she explains. “I tried out for all the NYU comedy groups, and got rejected from all of them. “None of the university plays cast me either.” And I just felt like, what am I doing here?”

She took matters into her own hands, taking the stage at open mics with Edebiri and posting uproarious (and decidedly) unconventional comedy videos digitally. One, Baby Cult, depicted several females fetishistically obsessed with pregnancy; another imagined working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as akin to being caught in a horror film. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through campus film circles and ultimately starring in her first film, Shiva Baby, a tense film set at a religious event with echoes of Uncut Gems. A recurring idea of her path, she says, has been contemporaries supporting her, rather than the industry at large. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “They were not involved”, she emphasizes, continuing amusedly: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”

Manifesting Dreams

Individuals who had doubts about her then will certainly be feeling foolish now. Through she labels a “astonishingly complete” turn of events, she appears to created the perfect project. A few years back she shared a video titled on LA life on the internet, in which she parodied Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Years later, she’s the co-showrunner (with Emma Barrie) of a series about city dwellers balancing advantages of online celebrity (such as partying at a famous actor’s house) with downsides (your friend being accused of being a intoxicated thief, and potentially becoming a risky persona non grata). It would be simple to produce a program about digital influence that was extremely glamorous—or, more problematic, one that punched down at the characters. This show steers clear of each, making for a representation of advantaged twentysomething existence that’s candid about the mess and the appeal.

Balanced Perspective

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

Alexander Nelson
Alexander Nelson

A linguist and writer passionate about exploring how language shapes culture and communication in the digital age.