The star enters the video call and right away launches into an apology. “Apologies for the delay!” she states, appearing truly remorseful. Although she's only slightly late, she feels compelled to explain. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Thankfully, during an interview, that’s precisely what is ideal to experience. Moreover, it’s fairly expected. Those who have seen her unapologetically openly gay and brash film titled Bottoms—that she penned with Emma Seligman and starred in together with close companion the talented actress—would be aware that Sennott holds plenty to discuss, whether about roles, relationships, or the pros of creating a teen combat group. Plus, once you finish her recent eight-part show I Love LA, it is clear that the star holds additional thoughts about the darker side of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, she represents a bridge to younger audiences, a tale-end millennial skilled for connecting both generations).
Guiding Lights and Creative Vision
The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s Girls naturally arise and Sennott readily acknowledges a fan, referencing it alongside the classic series, the acclaimed comedy and Atlanta as influences for I Love LA, which follows the travails of a social media star Tallulah and close companion who is also fledgling agent Maia. Notably, the largest presence on the moodboard belonged to Entourage, that show about an up-and-coming celebrity making his way in an often-seedy LA scene (notable statement: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott started watching it throughout the pandemic, became “obsessed”, and chose to put her own twist on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.
“I wanted to make a show where the internet, not Hollywood, was the industry, because my career started online,” she notes. The concept for I Love LA originated—partly—from firsthand, originally rocky, transition to Tinseltown and from her saturn return, a much-talked-about occurrence for enthusiasts. It was a phase that saw her understand some big insights, in her career and in private life. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she recalls. “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…”
Humble Origins
Raised in Connecticut, Sennott began developing and showcasing stand-up while pursuing theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” she explains. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. 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, performing at open mics with Edebiri and sharing hilarious (and distinctly) bizarre skits digitally. A particular video, titled Baby Cult, followed characters intensely obsessed with motherhood; another imagined being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being trapped in a scary movie. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Emma through campus film circles and ended up featuring in her first film, Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a religious event with echoes of the intense thriller. The big theme of her career, she notes, has been contemporaries supporting her, as opposed to traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “Not the gatekeepers”, she confirms, adding with a laugh: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Career Breakthrough
Individuals who had doubts about her then will certainly be feeling foolish now. In what she calls a “astonishingly complete” story, she appears to manifested the perfect project. Previously she uploaded a video named “it’s LA” on the internet, in which she lampooned movie previews (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Six years on, she’s a lead creator (with her partner) of a show about city dwellers managing the perks of digital stardom (such as socializing at a famous actor’s house) with drawbacks (your friend being labeled as being a substance-abusing thief, and possibly becoming a unreliable outcast). It would be simple to create a series about online fame that was extremely idealized—or, even less favorable, one that belittled at the characters. This show steers clear of each, creating a portrait of advantaged twentysomething living that’s honest about the mess and the appeal.
Nuanced Portrayal
“Many programs portray youth and online life with disdain and mockery,” 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
