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The star enters the online meeting and right away launches into an apology. “Apologies for the delay!” she exclaims, sounding genuinely regretful. Despite being only a bit behind, she needs to justify. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Fortunately, during an interview, that’s exactly what is ideal to hear. Additionally, it’s fairly unsurprising. Anyone familiar with the fearlessly openly gay and unapologetically crass movie titled Bottoms—which Sennott co-wrote with her creative partner and featured in with close companion the talented actress—will already know that Sennott holds plenty to share, whether about gender, intimacy, or the merits of creating a high-school combat group. Plus, after watching her recent seasonal HBO series titled I Love LA, it is clear that she holds even more thoughts about the struggles of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, Sennott represents a relatable figure of the gang, a tale-end millennial with a knack for bridging both generations).

Influences and Storytelling Approach

The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s Girls naturally arise and the actress readily acknowledges a fan, citing it together with the classic series, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as influences for the project, which tracks the travails of online personality Tallulah and her friend who is also fledgling agent portrayed by Sennott. Notably, the largest presence on the moodboard was reserved for Entourage, the HBO sitcom about a rising celebrity navigating in a gritty Hollywood (notable statement: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott started watching it throughout lockdown, became “captivated”, and decided to add a fresh perspective 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 notes. The idea for I Love LA originated—partly—from her own, initially fractious, move to Tinseltown and from her astrological phase, a popular phenomenon for enthusiasts. It was an era that saw her learn significant truths, professionally and personally. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she admits. “In my mid-20s, I moved to LA and got settled. And then I felt like everything started to just fall apart. It was almost like these biblical tests …”

Humble Origins

Raised in the East Coast, the star began writing and performing comedy while studying theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she explains. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “None of the university plays cast me either.” “I wondered why I was even there at all.”

Sennott decided to act independently, performing at open mics with her friend and sharing hysterical (and decidedly) bizarre skits online. One, Baby Cult, centered on several females obsessively obsessed with pregnancy; another imagined working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being trapped in a horror film. Interestingly, she encountered Emma through NYU’s movie community and ended up starring in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, a tense comedy set at a Jewish wake with shades of Uncut Gems. The big theme of her journey, she says, has been contemporaries supporting her, rather than traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “They were not involved”, she confirms, continuing with a laugh: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Rising Success

Individuals who had doubts regarding her then will certainly be kicking themselves currently. In what she labels a “wild, full-circle” story, she has manifested an ideal role. Previously she posted a video called about Los Angeles on social media, in which she mocked film promos (“Substance abuse is rampant here”). Now, she’s executive producer (with the co-writer) of a comedy about city dwellers balancing advantages of internet fame (such as partying at Elijah Wood’s house) with drawbacks (your client being accused of being a drug-addled stealer, and potentially becoming a risky pariah). It would be tempting to make a program about online fame that was horribly aspirational—or, worse, one that punched down at its subjects. This show does neither, making for a depiction of privileged young adult life that’s frank about the chaos and the shine.

Nuanced Portrayal

“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