The comedic talent on her hilarious series depicting that grotty allure of today's youth life

The performer enters the online meeting and immediately launches into an excuse. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she says, sounding really remorseful. Although she's only a bit delayed, she needs to justify. “My phone conversations always run long.” “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Fortunately, for a writer, that’s precisely what is ideal to experience. Additionally, it’s pretty expected. Viewers familiar with the boldly queer and outspoken project titled Bottoms—which she penned with the director and starred in alongside close companion the talented actress—can already know that Sennott has a lot to say, whether on roles, relationships, or the pros of creating a high-school combat group. Plus, after watching the new multi-episode show I Love LA, viewers realize that the star carries further thoughts on the challenges of modern youth (As a millennial, Sennott represents an honorary member for this generation, straddling eras with a knack for bridging both generations).

Inspirations and Creative Vision

Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show can’t be avoided and the actress readily acknowledges enthusiastic, referencing it in addition to the HBO hit, Insecure and Atlanta as guides for I Love LA, which details the struggles of an influencer played by Odessa A’Zion and ally who is also aspiring agent portrayed by Sennott. Perhaps, the biggest influence on the moodboard went to Entourage, the show about an up-and-coming A-list actor making his way in an often-seedy entertainment industry (memorable line: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott discovered it amid lockdown, became “hooked”, 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 explains. The inspiration for the series originated—in part—from personal, originally fractious, relocation to Los Angeles and from the cosmic event, a much-talked-about occurrence for enthusiasts. This represented an era that involved her learn significant truths, work-wise and personally. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she recalls. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”

Early Beginnings

Raised in the East Coast, Sennott began developing and showcasing stand-up while pursuing acting at a prestigious arts school. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she says. “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. “I wondered why I was even there at all.”

She took matters into her own hands, taking the stage at live shows with Edebiri and posting uproarious (and very) bizarre skits on the internet. One, titled Baby Cult, followed several females obsessively obsessed with pregnancy; a different one portrayed working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as akin to being trapped in a horror film. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through the university’s film scene and eventually starring in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful film set at a Jewish wake with shades of the intense thriller. The big theme of her career, she notes, has been peers supporting her, instead of the industry at large. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Not the gatekeepers”, she confirms, continuing humorously: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”

Manifesting Dreams

Anyone who were skeptical about Sennott previously will certainly be feeling foolish today. As part of she labels a “astonishingly complete” story, she appears to created the perfect project. In 2019 she uploaded content named about Los Angeles on social media, in which she mocked Hollywood trailers (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a series about LA residents juggling the perks of internet fame (such as celebrating at Elijah Wood’s house) with its pitfalls (your friend being labeled as being a drug-addled criminal, and perhaps becoming a risky outcast). One might tempting to create a show about digital influence that was horribly idealized—or, worse, one that punched down at its subjects. The series avoids both, making for a depiction of advantaged millennial living that’s frank about the mess and the shine.

Empathetic Approach

“Many programs portray youth and online life with disdain and mockery,” 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

Tracy Bishop
Tracy Bishop

A freelance writer and community advocate who explores social issues and personal growth through storytelling.