The comedic talent exploring the side-splitting show about that messy appeal of Gen Z existence
The performer joins the digital interview and right away begins an apology. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she states, sounding genuinely apologetic. Although she's only slightly late, she needs to clarify. “My phone conversations always run long.” I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Thankfully, during an interview, this is just what one hopes to hear. Moreover, it’s quite unsurprising. Anyone familiar with the boldly queer and unapologetically crass project Bottoms—that Sennott co-wrote with the director and featured in together with collaborator Ayo Edebiri—will be aware that she possesses much to share, be it about identity, intimacy, or the merits of creating a teen fight club. Furthermore, by the end her recent seasonal show titled I Love LA, it becomes obvious that the star carries further thoughts on the challenges of modern youth (Now in her thirties, she is an honorary member of the gang, on the cusp skilled for straddling different age groups).
Inspirations and Artistic Direction
The comparisons to the iconic series Girls naturally arise and the actress admits to being a fan, referencing the show alongside Sex and the City, Insecure and Donald Glover’s series as influences for the project, which details the struggles of online personality played by Odessa A’Zion and her friend who is also fledgling talent manager Maia. However, the most significant spot on concept belonged to Entourage, the program focusing on an emerging celebrity succeeding in a gritty entertainment industry (choice quote: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott discovered it throughout lockdown, became “captivated”, and decided to add a fresh perspective 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 explains. The concept for the series originated—to some extent—from her own, initially difficult, move to Los Angeles and from her astrological phase, a much-talked-about phenomenon for followers. This represented an era that included her grasp some big life lessons, in her career and in private life. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” 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
Growing up in the East Coast, the star commenced creating and acting humor while enrolled in acting at a prestigious arts school. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she says. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”
She took matters into her own hands, appearing at open mics with Ayo and uploading hysterical (and very) bizarre online content digitally. A particular video, titled Baby Cult, followed several females intensely drawn to pregnancy; another imagined working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as akin to being trapped in a thriller. By chance, she met Emma through the university’s film scene and ultimately featuring in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful comedy set at a religious event with echoes of Uncut Gems. The central motif of her path, she says, has been peers supporting her, as opposed to the industry at large. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “Not the gatekeepers”, she confirms, continuing amusedly: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”
Rising Success
Individuals who had doubts regarding her previously will certainly be kicking themselves today. As part of she calls a “wild, full-circle” turn of events, she appears to achieved an ideal role. In 2019 she shared content titled about Los Angeles on social media, in which she parodied Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Years later, she’s the co-showrunner (with her partner) of a series about Angelenos juggling advantages of online celebrity (such as partying at a famous actor’s house) with its pitfalls (your client being accused of being a intoxicated thief, and perhaps becoming a risky persona non grata). It would be simple to make a series about internet celebrity that was extremely idealized—or, worse, one that mocked at the characters. The series steers clear of each, resulting in a representation of affluent millennial living that’s honest about the chaos and the appeal.
Nuanced Portrayal
“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” 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