The actress and writer discussing her hilarious series depicting that messy allure of today's youth lifestyle
The star joins the online meeting and right away starts an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she states, seeming truly remorseful. Although she's only a bit late, she feels compelled to justify. “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!” Luckily, during an interview, that’s precisely what you want to hear. Additionally, it’s pretty predictable. Those who have seen her fearlessly openly gay and brash project Bottoms—that Sennott co-wrote with the director and starred in together with her friend Ayo Edebiri—would be aware that Sennott possesses plenty to say, whether on gender, relationships, or the pros of creating a teen combat group. Plus, by the end the new multi-episode show I Love LA, it becomes obvious that the star carries even more insights about the darker side of modern youth (At 30, Sennott represents a relatable figure to younger audiences, on the cusp adept for straddling both generations).
Influences and Creative Vision
Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show are inevitable and Sennott readily acknowledges an admirer, naming it alongside the classic series, Issa Rae’s show and Donald Glover’s series as inspirations for I Love LA, which details the journey of an influencer played by Odessa A’Zion and ally and aspiring talent manager portrayed by Sennott. However, the most significant spot on the moodboard was reserved for Entourage, the program focusing on an emerging A-list actor succeeding in a gritty entertainment industry (memorable line: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott discovered it throughout lockdown, became “hooked”, and chose to create a new version 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 explains. The concept for the series came—partly—from firsthand, initially difficult, move to Tinseltown and from her astrological phase, a frequently discussed event for enthusiasts. This represented a time that included her grasp some big life lessons, in her career and in private life. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she says. “After relocating to Los Angeles in my mid-twenties, I found stability, only for things to crumble. “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”
Humble Origins
Growing up in Connecticut, the star commenced developing and showcasing humor while pursuing theatre at a prestigious arts school. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she explains. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “I wondered why I was even there at all.”
Sennott decided to act independently, taking the stage at live shows with her friend and posting hysterical (and distinctly) weird comedy videos online. A particular video, Baby Cult, followed a group of women intensely obsessed with motherhood; another envisioned working at the brand Hollister as like being stuck in a horror film. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through campus film circles and ended up featuring in her first film, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful film set at a Jewish wake with hints of the intense thriller. The central motif of her journey, she notes, has been contemporaries giving her a shot, rather than the industry at large. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “Definitely not them”, she repeats, adding humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Manifesting Dreams
Those who questioned regarding her earlier will surely be regretting it today. Through she labels a “incredibly circular” development, she seems to have achieved her dream vehicle. Previously she shared a video named “it’s LA” on social media, in which she parodied movie previews (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Six years on, she’s a lead creator (with her partner) of a show about city dwellers juggling the perks of digital stardom (such as celebrating at Elijah Wood’s house) with its pitfalls (your friend being suspected of being a substance-abusing thief, and potentially becoming a “brand unsafe” pariah). Some could tempting to create a series about digital influence that was extremely glamorous—or, worse, one that mocked at its subjects. The series does neither, making for a portrait of privileged millennial existence that’s honest about the grot and the shine.
Balanced Perspective
“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