The actress and writer on her side-splitting series depicting the messy glamour of Gen Z life
Rachel Sennott joins the online meeting and immediately starts an excuse. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she exclaims, seeming truly apologetic. She is only a bit late, she feels compelled to justify. “My phone conversations always run long.” I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Fortunately, for a writer, that’s exactly what you want to encounter. Additionally, it’s pretty unsurprising. Those who know her unapologetically openly gay and brash project titled Bottoms—that Sennott penned with her creative partner and appeared in alongside her friend the talented actress—will already know that Sennott has much to say, be it about gender, relationships, or the pros of forming a teen brawl society. And, after watching the latest seasonal program I Love LA, viewers realize that she carries additional insights about the struggles of Gen Z life (As a millennial, she serves as a relatable figure for this generation, on the cusp with a knack for straddling both generations).
Influences and Artistic Direction
The comparisons to the iconic series Girls naturally arise and Sennott is a fan, citing the show together with the HBO hit, Issa Rae’s show and Atlanta as guides for the project, which tracks the struggles of a social media star played by Odessa A’Zion and ally and new agent Maia. Notably, the biggest presence on concept went to the HBO series, that HBO sitcom about an emerging celebrity navigating in a gritty LA scene (notable statement: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott discovered it during COVID-19, became “hooked”, and chose to add a fresh perspective on it “with female and queer audiences in mind”.
“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she says. The idea for this project came—partly—from firsthand, originally rocky, transition to LA and from her astrological phase, a frequently discussed phenomenon for enthusiasts. It was a phase that included her understand significant truths, in her career and personally. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she says. “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
Growing up in Connecticut, the star started developing and showcasing stand-up while studying theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” she says. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”
Sennott seized control, performing at open mics with Edebiri and posting uproarious (and distinctly) unconventional comedy videos online. One, Baby Cult, centered on characters obsessively drawn to having babies; another envisioned working at a trendy retail outlet as akin to being trapped in a horror film. Interestingly, she encountered Emma through the university’s film scene and ultimately featuring in her initial project, Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a funeral gathering with shades of Uncut Gems. A recurring idea of her path, she notes, has been people her own age offering opportunities, rather than established gatekeepers. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “They were not involved”, she repeats, continuing amusedly: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”
Rising Success
Individuals who were skeptical regarding Sennott previously will certainly be kicking themselves now. Through she labels a “astonishingly complete” story, she seems to have achieved an ideal role. Previously she uploaded a clip named about Los Angeles on social media, in which she mocked film promos (“Substance abuse is rampant here”). Now, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a comedy about LA residents juggling advantages of online celebrity (such as partying at Elijah Wood’s house) with drawbacks (your client being labeled as being a substance-abusing stealer, and possibly becoming a unreliable persona non grata). One might easy to produce a show about digital influence that was extremely idealized—or, more problematic, one that mocked at the characters. This show avoids both, making for a portrait of affluent twentysomething life that’s frank about the mess 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