🔗 Share this article

The performer appears on the video call and immediately launches into an explanation. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she states, sounding truly regretful. She is only a bit behind, she needs to justify. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Fortunately, in this context, this is exactly what one hopes to experience. Moreover, it’s quite predictable. Viewers who have seen her fearlessly queer and outspoken film titled Bottoms—that Sennott co-wrote with her creative partner and starred in together with her friend the talented actress—can already know that Sennott holds a lot to say, be it on identity, sex, or the merits of starting a high-school combat group. Furthermore, after watching her latest seasonal program I Love LA, viewers realize that the star carries even more thoughts on the struggles of young adulthood (As a millennial, she serves as a bridge to younger audiences, a tale-end millennial skilled for bridging different age groups).

Influences and Artistic Direction

Likenesses to the iconic series Girls naturally arise and Sennott is a fan, referencing the show together with the HBO hit, Insecure and Atlanta as inspirations for I Love LA, which details the travails of a social media star played by Odessa A’Zion and close companion and aspiring representative portrayed by Sennott. Perhaps, the largest spot on the moodboard went to the popular sitcom, that show depicting a rising A-list actor making his way in a gritty entertainment industry (choice quote: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott began viewing it during COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and decided to put her own twist on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“My aim was to focus on digital fame over traditional entertainment, as my own beginnings were on the web,” she says. The inspiration for this project originated—to some extent—from personal, initially difficult, transition to Los Angeles and from the saturn return, a popular phenomenon for astrology heads. It was an era that saw her learn major truths, work-wise and in private life. “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 resembled a series of extreme challenges…”

Starting Out

Raised in New England, 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 states. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” I tried out for all the NYU plays and didn’t make it into any of them. And I just felt like, what am I doing here?”

Sennott seized control, taking the stage at amateur nights with Edebiri and sharing uproarious (and decidedly) unconventional online content on the internet. A particular video, Baby Cult, depicted several females obsessively drawn to having babies; another imagined being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as akin to being stuck in a horror film. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Emma through NYU’s movie community and ended up starring in her initial project, Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a religious event with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her career, she explains, has been contemporaries giving her a shot, rather than the industry at large. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “They were not involved”, she repeats, continuing humorously: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”

Career Breakthrough

Individuals who questioned about Sennott then will certainly be kicking themselves currently. In what she labels a “wild, full-circle” story, she seems to have manifested an ideal role. Previously she uploaded a video named on LA life online, in which she mocked Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Now, she’s executive producer (with the co-writer) of a series about LA residents juggling the perks of digital stardom (such as partying at Elijah Wood’s house) with downsides (your associate being accused of being a intoxicated stealer, and perhaps becoming a “brand unsafe” pariah). One might easy to create a series about internet celebrity that was overly aspirational—or, even less favorable, one that mocked at those depicted. I Love LA does neither, resulting in a portrait of advantaged young adult living that’s candid about the grot and the appeal.

Balanced Perspective

“There have been a lot of shows that depict young people and their relationship to the internet in this very condescending, hateful way,” 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