The comedic talent discussing the side-splitting comedy about the grotty glamour of Gen Z existence

The star appears on the video call and at once begins an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she exclaims, seeming genuinely remorseful. Despite being only a bit behind, she wants to explain. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Fortunately, in this context, this is just what is ideal to experience. Moreover, it’s fairly expected. Those familiar with her unapologetically queer and unapologetically crass project titled Bottoms—which Sennott collaborated on with the director and featured in with close companion Ayo Edebiri—will understand that Sennott holds plenty to discuss, be it about gender, relationships, or the appeal of creating a youth combat group. Plus, by the end the recent eight-part show titled I Love LA, it is clear that the star carries even more perspectives about the darker side of Gen Z life (As a millennial, Sennott serves as an honorary member to younger audiences, on the cusp with a knack for straddling different age groups).

Inspirations and Storytelling Approach

Parallels to the iconic series Girls can’t be avoided and the actress admits to being a fan, naming it together with Sex and the City, the acclaimed comedy and the innovative program as influences for the project, which follows the struggles of an influencer Tallulah and close companion and fledgling agent portrayed by Sennott. Notably, the most significant presence on creative vision belonged to the HBO series, the HBO sitcom depicting a rising celebrity making his way in a gritty entertainment industry (choice quote: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott began viewing it during the pandemic, became “captivated”, and decided 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 inspiration for I Love LA came—to some extent—from firsthand, originally fractious, relocation to Los Angeles and from her saturn return, a frequently discussed phenomenon for enthusiasts. This represented an era that saw her grasp significant truths, professionally and personally. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she recalls. “After relocating to Los Angeles in my mid-twenties, I found stability, only for things to crumble. It was almost like these biblical tests …”

Starting Out

Raised in Connecticut, Sennott started creating and acting humor while pursuing theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she states. “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. “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”

Sennott seized control, taking the stage at open mics with Ayo and posting uproarious (and decidedly) bizarre online content online. A particular video, Baby Cult, followed a group of women fetishistically obsessed with having babies; a different one imagined being employed at the brand Hollister as like being trapped in a scary movie. Interestingly, she encountered Emma through NYU’s movie community and ended up featuring in her initial project, Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a religious event with echoes of the intense thriller. The central motif of her path, she explains, has been contemporaries giving her a shot, instead of established gatekeepers. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “They were not involved”, she repeats, adding with a laugh: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Rising Success

Those who had doubts regarding her earlier will likely be kicking themselves currently. In what she describes as a “astonishingly complete” turn of events, she seems to have created her dream vehicle. A few years back she uploaded a video titled “it’s LA” on the internet, in which she parodied film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Years later, she’s a lead creator (with Emma Barrie) of a series about Angelenos juggling benefits of online celebrity (such as socializing at a celebrity’s house) with drawbacks (your friend being suspected of being a substance-abusing criminal, and potentially becoming a “brand unsafe” pariah). Some could easy to make a program about internet celebrity that was overly aspirational—or, even less favorable, one that mocked at its subjects. The series does neither, resulting in a representation of advantaged twentysomething existence that’s candid about the chaos and the appeal.

Empathetic Approach

“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” 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

Hayden Moore
Hayden Moore

A seasoned IT consultant with over 15 years of experience in digital transformation and cloud solutions, passionate about helping UK businesses thrive through technology.