The actress and writer on the uproarious series portraying that grotty appeal of younger generation existence

The performer enters the digital interview and right away begins an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she says, seeming really remorseful. She is only slightly late, she feels compelled to explain. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Luckily, during an interview, this is just what you want to encounter. Besides, it’s pretty expected. Viewers who know her unapologetically LGBTQ+ and unapologetically crass movie Bottoms—which she collaborated on with the director and featured in together with her friend Ayo Edebiri—would already know that Sennott possesses plenty to say, be it on identity, intimacy, or the appeal of creating a teen brawl society. Plus, once you finish her recent eight-part program I Love LA, viewers realize that she carries further insights on the darker side of Gen Z life (As a millennial, Sennott serves as a bridge of the gang, a tale-end millennial adept for straddling different age groups).

Inspirations and Creative Vision

Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show naturally arise and Sennott is an admirer, naming the show in addition to Sex and the City, Issa Rae’s show and Atlanta as guides for her series, which details the travails of online personality Tallulah and ally who is also aspiring agent portrayed by Sennott. However, the most significant spot on concept belonged to Entourage, that show about a rising Hollywood star making his way in a gritty entertainment industry (memorable line: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott started watching it during COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and decided to put her own twist on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she says. The inspiration for I Love LA emerged—in part—from her own, initially difficult, transition to LA and from her astrological phase, a much-talked-about occurrence for enthusiasts. That period marked an era that involved her grasp major truths, work-wise and in private life. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” 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 New England, Sennott started creating and acting comedy while studying theatre at New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she says. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”

Sennott decided to act independently, performing at live shows with Ayo and uploading hilarious (and very) bizarre online content online. A particular video, titled Baby Cult, followed a group of women obsessively drawn to motherhood; a different one portrayed working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being stuck in a scary movie. In a neat twist of fate, she met Emma through the university’s film scene and eventually featuring in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful comedy set at a funeral gathering with shades of Uncut Gems. The big theme of her career, she explains, has been peers offering opportunities, instead of established gatekeepers. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Definitely not them”, she emphasizes, continuing with a laugh: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”

Career Breakthrough

Those who had doubts regarding Sennott then will likely be kicking themselves today. In what she calls a “wild, full-circle” development, she has achieved her dream vehicle. Previously she uploaded a video named “it’s LA” online, in which she mocked Hollywood trailers (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Six years on, she’s executive producer (with Emma Barrie) of a series about Angelenos balancing benefits of internet fame (such as partying at Elijah Wood’s house) with drawbacks (your friend being labeled as being a drug-addled thief, and possibly becoming a unreliable outcast). It would be tempting to create a show about digital influence that was overly idealized—or, more problematic, one that mocked at its subjects. I Love LA avoids both, making for a representation of affluent young adult life that’s candid about the grot 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

Lorraine Stone
Lorraine Stone

A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping businesses thrive online.