The comedic talent on her hilarious series about that messy allure of Gen Z existence

The performer appears on the video call and immediately begins an explanation. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she states, sounding really regretful. Although she's only a couple of minutes delayed, she needs to explain. “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!” Thankfully, in this context, this is just what one hopes to experience. Moreover, it’s pretty unsurprising. Anyone familiar with her fearlessly queer and outspoken film Bottoms—which Sennott co-wrote with Emma Seligman and appeared in together with close companion Ayo Edebiri—would understand that Sennott holds plenty to say, be it about identity, intimacy, or the pros of forming a youth fight club. Furthermore, by the end the latest multi-episode show titled I Love LA, it is clear that the star holds additional perspectives about the challenges of modern youth (At 30, Sennott is a bridge of the gang, a tale-end millennial with a knack for straddling both generations).

Influences and Storytelling Approach

Likenesses to the iconic series Girls naturally arise and the actress is enthusiastic, citing it alongside the classic series, Issa Rae’s show and Atlanta as influences for I Love LA, which follows the struggles of an influencer Tallulah and her friend and new agent Maia. However, the largest presence on concept went to the popular sitcom, that show focusing on an emerging A-list actor navigating in a corrupt entertainment industry (memorable line: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). She started watching it throughout the pandemic, became “captivated”, and resolved to create a new version 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 says. The concept for this project came—to some extent—from firsthand, originally rocky, move to Tinseltown and from the saturn return, a popular occurrence for enthusiasts. This represented an era that included her understand major life lessons, work-wise and in private life. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she admits. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”

Starting Out

Raised in Connecticut, the star began developing and showcasing comedy while enrolled in performance at a prestigious arts school. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she explains. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “None of the university plays cast me either.” “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”

She took matters into her own hands, taking the stage at live shows with Ayo and posting hilarious (and distinctly) bizarre skits on the internet. One, Baby Cult, followed characters obsessively drawn to having babies; another portrayed working at a trendy retail outlet as like being caught in a scary movie. Interestingly, she connected with Emma through the university’s film scene and ended up appearing in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful comedy set at a funeral gathering with hints of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her journey, she says, has been people her own age giving her a shot, instead of established gatekeepers. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “They were not involved”, she emphasizes, stating amusedly: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Career Breakthrough

Those who questioned about her previously will surely be kicking themselves today. As part of she describes as a “incredibly circular” development, she appears to achieved her dream vehicle. In 2019 she shared a clip titled on LA life on social media, in which she mocked movie previews (“Substance abuse is rampant here”). Now, she’s a lead creator (with her partner) of a series about Angelenos managing the perks of digital stardom (such as socializing at Elijah Wood’s house) with drawbacks (your friend being labeled as being a intoxicated stealer, and possibly becoming a unreliable persona non grata). Some could easy to make a program about online fame that was horribly glamorous—or, more problematic, one that belittled at those depicted. This show avoids both, making for a portrait of advantaged young adult living that’s honest about the grot and the shine.

Nuanced Portrayal

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

Anthony Wong
Anthony Wong

A passionate storyteller and script consultant with over a decade of experience in film and theater, dedicated to helping writers find their unique voice.