Rachel Sennott is redefining comedy on her own terms. The 28-year-old multihyphenate—comedian, writer, and star of HBO’s upcoming series Bottoms—has fought to transcend reductive labels while staying true to her razor-sharp voice. Here’s how she turned industry skepticism into creative fuel.
From Twitter to Typecasting: How Sennott Broke Free
Early in her career, executives dismissed Sennott as “the slutty girl from Twitter” due to her candid, raunchy online humor. “People assumed my social media persona was all I could do,” she told NextMinuteNews. Her breakout role in Shiva Baby (2020) proved otherwise, blending hilarity and vulnerability as a bisexual student trapped in a chaotic funeral.
Hollywood’s Pushback and the Fight for Bottoms
Post-Shiva Baby, Sennott faced pressure to dilute her edgy style for broader appeal. “I refused to be boring,” she said. Teaming again with director Emma Seligman, she co-created Bottoms, HBO’s subversive comedy about queer teens starting a fight club. “It’s Fight Club meets Booksmart—but way messier,” Sennott quipped.
Why She Finally Embraced L.A.
Once a self-described “New York purist,” Sennott learned to appreciate Los Angeles after finding her creative tribe. “L.A. has the real weirdos,” she said. “You just have to dig past the phonies.”
What’s Next? More Risks, More Laughs
With Bottoms set to premiere this fall, Sennott isn’t chasing fame—she’s chasing authenticity. “I want to make people laugh, then hit them with truth,” she said. For Hollywood gatekeepers who underestimated her? Consider this their wake-up call.
