🔗 Share this article

The star appears on the online meeting and at once begins an explanation. “Apologies for the delay!” she says, appearing truly regretful. Although she's only a couple of minutes late, she wants to justify. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Luckily, during an interview, this is just what is ideal to hear. Additionally, it’s quite unsurprising. Those who know the unapologetically queer and unapologetically crass film titled Bottoms—that Sennott collaborated on with the director and featured in alongside close companion The Bear’s standout—will understand that Sennott possesses much to discuss, be it on identity, relationships, or the merits of starting a high-school combat group. And, after watching the latest seasonal show I Love LA, it is clear that the star carries further thoughts regarding the challenges of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, Sennott represents an honorary member of the gang, straddling eras with a knack for connecting both generations).

Inspirations and Storytelling Approach

The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show can’t be avoided and Sennott admits to being enthusiastic, referencing the show in addition to Sex and the City, Issa Rae’s show and Donald Glover’s series as inspirations for I Love LA, which tracks the journey of an influencer played by Odessa A’Zion and ally who is also aspiring talent manager Sennott’s character. However, the largest presence on creative vision went to the popular sitcom, that HBO sitcom about an emerging celebrity making his way in an often-seedy Hollywood (choice quote: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott started watching it amid COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and decided to create a new version 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 inspiration for the series emerged—partly—from personal, initially difficult, relocation to LA and from the cosmic event, a much-talked-about event for astrology heads. It was an era that saw her learn significant life lessons, work-wise 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. “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”

Early Beginnings

Raised in New England, the star commenced creating and acting stand-up while pursuing acting at a prestigious arts school. “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 seized control, performing at open mics with Ayo and sharing hysterical (and distinctly) bizarre comedy videos on the internet. One, titled Baby Cult, centered on several females obsessively fixated on having babies; another imagined being employed at the brand Hollister as akin to being stuck in a scary movie. In a neat twist of fate, she encountered Seligman through NYU’s movie community and ultimately featuring in her first film, Shiva Baby, an anxious dramedy set at a Jewish wake with hints of Uncut Gems. The big theme of her journey, she notes, has been peers supporting her, instead of traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “Definitely not them”, she emphasizes, adding humorously: “They don’t want us to win.”

Career Breakthrough

Individuals who had doubts regarding Sennott earlier will likely be feeling foolish now. In what she calls a “wild, full-circle” story, she has created her dream vehicle. Previously she shared a video titled “it’s LA” on the internet, in which she lampooned film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Six years on, she’s executive producer (with the co-writer) of a comedy about Angelenos balancing advantages of digital stardom (such as partying at Elijah Wood’s house) with downsides (your friend being suspected of being a drug-addled thief, and perhaps becoming a risky outcast). Some could easy to create a show about online fame that was horribly glamorous—or, worse, one that punched down at the characters. This show steers clear of each, resulting in a portrait of affluent young adult existence that’s candid about the mess and the glamour.

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 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