Rachel Sennott
Rachel Anne Sennott (born September 19, 1995) is an American comedian, actress and screenwriter. After training at NYU Tisch and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, she began her career on the New York City open mic scene with a regular gig on It’s A Guy Thing. She later co-developed two web series for Comedy Central.
Rachel Sennott | |
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Sennott in 2022 | |
| Born | Rachel Anne Sennott September 19, 1995 Simsbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Alma mater | New York University (BFA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2016–present |
Sennott rose to prominence with her starring roles in the comedy films Shiva Baby (2020), Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) and Bottoms (2023), the last of which also served as her screenwriting debut.
Sennott has collaborated frequently with fellow actress and writer Ayo Edebiri.
Early life edit
Rachel Anne Sennott[1] was born on September 19, 1995[2] in Simsbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Donna (née Virzi) and Jack Sennott.[3][4][5] She is of Italian and Irish descent,[6][7] and was raised Catholic.[8][9] She graduated from Simsbury High School in 2014.[10]
Career edit
2016–2020: Early work in comedy edit
Sennott became interested in comedy as a freshman in college, when she went to an open mic night on a date.[11] She studied acting at NYU Tisch and Stella Adler Studio of Acting, graduating in 2017.[12][13] During college she continued to perform comedy at open mic nights, as well as acting in student films, including the lead role of Danielle in the 2017 short film version of Emma Seligman's Shiva Baby; she reprised this role in the 2020 feature film adaptation.[11]
In 2018, feeling out of control of her fledgling career, Sennott turned to Twitter comedy; she wrote and tweeted multiple short jokes per day.[11] In a 2020 interview for Nylon, she said she did not enjoy the Manhattan open mic scene because she felt that people were laughing at her rather than with her, and moved into the alt scene with a regular gig on It's A Guy Thing.[12] She developed two shows in 2018: Puke Fest and Ur Gonna Slp Rlly Well Tonight.[14] Puke Fest combines stand-up sets with a drinking game and moved to Instagram Live during the COVID-19 pandemic.[15][3] Sennott's distinct comedic voice, a "messy" persona often complaining about dating and the economy, became popular in the alt scene.[12] In 2019, she was named one of the six best comedians of the alt scene on lists from both Time Out New York and Pop Dust, which cited her unique satirical takes on aspects of millennial life and culture.[16][17] She satirizes other elements of culture, with some of her most popular bits including videos about the Los Angeles movie culture[12][18] and baby-obsessed young women.[19] A sound clip from her video, "Come on, it's LA", is sampled at the beginning of the song "Bump This" by Michael Medrano, Jake Germain, and Michete.[20]
On television, Sennott appeared in HBO's High Maintenance,[11] and played Jackie Raines on Call Your Mother.[21] Sennot and Ayo Edebiri co-developed two series for Comedy Central,[11][12] Ayo and Rachel Are Single and Taking the Stage, which began airing on the network in 2020.[22][23] Sennott also appears with Edebiri and other comedians on the web comedy-documentary series Speak Up, which seeks to amplify female voices about working in comedy.[24][25]
2021–present: Transition to feature films edit
Sennott starred in the 2020 feature films Tahara as Hannah Rosen,[26] and Shiva Baby as Danielle. Both films are queer Jewish coming-of-age narratives set at funeral services.[27][28] In the lead role of Danielle in Shiva Baby, which premiered at SXSW and TIFF in 2020, Sennott's performance was highlighted in several reviews,[29][30][31] with Andrew Parker of The GATE saying that she gave "a wonderful, star making performance"[32] and Alex de Vore of the Santa Fe Reporter writing that "after her performance in [the film], she should probably just be allowed to do whatever she wants – she's a natural."[33] Sennott won the Rising Star award at the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival.[34] In 2022, she played Alice in Bodies Bodies Bodies, an A24 comedy horror film. She was consistently named the standout performance of the film.[a] Megan Conway of The New York Times Style Magazine summarized the consensus surrounding her performance: "Sennott's ability to inject an astonishing range of meaning into Alice's various cries and yowls—as well as her litany of expletives and 'oh my Gods'—steals the show."[42]
In 2023, Sennott reunited with Shiva Baby writer-director Emma Seligman to write the teen sex comedy film Bottoms. Sennott stars in the film alongside Ayo Edebiri. The film premiered at SXSW on March 11, 2023, to critical acclaim.[43] Also screened at SXSW was the tragicomedy I Used to Be Funny. Writing on Sennott's performance in her review for The Austin Chronicle, Jenny Nulf said it "is heartbreaking, a tight rope walk between funny and sad that's done gracefully."[44] Sennott also began starring on the HBO drama series The Idol in June 2023.[45] It premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival where it was met with highly unfavorable critical reception, though Alex Barasch of The New Yorker commended Sennott as one of its "strong performances."[46] Sennott next appeared in comedy film Susie Searches.[47]
She is set to appear in Saverio Costanzo's period drama Finalmente L'alba (Finally Dawn).[48]
On March 18, 2024, Deadline reported that Sennott had sold a half-hour comedy pilot to HBO, in which she is set to write, star, and executive produce. The show will reportedly follow a codependent friend group as they reunite after time spent apart.[49]
Personal life edit
Sennott splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City.[50][51]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Shiva Baby | Danielle | Short film |
| 2020 | Tahara | Hannah Rosen | |
| Shiva Baby | Danielle | Also executive producer[29] | |
| 2022 | Appendage | Ella | Short film[52] |
| Bodies Bodies Bodies | Alice | ||
| 2023 | Susie Searches | Jillian | |
| Bottoms | PJ | Also screenwriter and executive producer[53] | |
| I Used to Be Funny | Sam | ||
| Finalmente l'alba | Nan Roth | ||
| TBA | Holland, Michigan | Filming[54] | |
| TBA | SNL 1975 | Rosie Shuster | Filming[55] |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | High Maintenance | Episode: "Namaste"[11] | |
| 2020 | Ayo and Rachel Are Single | Rachel | 3 episodes[22] |
| Speak Up | Herself | ||
| 2021 | Call Your Mother | Jackie Raines | Main role[21] |
| 2023 | The Idol | Leia | Recurring role[56] |
Awards and nominations edit
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival | Rising Star | Shiva Baby | Won | [34] |
| 2021 | Gotham Independent Film Awards | Breakthrough Actor | Nominated | [57] | |
| Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | [58] | ||
| The ReFrame Stamp | Narrative Feature | Won | [59][60] | ||
| 2023 | 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Bodies Bodies Bodies | Nominated | [61] |
| Most Frightened Performance | Nominated | [61] |
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ "Rachel Anne Sennott". Rachel Anne Sennott. from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "25! The perfect age". Instagram. September 19, 2020. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b "Tweeting Through Quar With Rachel Sennott". PAPER. May 11, 2020. from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "Simsbury High grad Rachel Sennott stars in ABC sitcom 'Call Your Mother'". January 26, 2021. from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "From the Candidate: Jack Sennott". October 25, 2011. from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Sennott, Rachel [@Rachel_Sennott] (August 28, 2020). (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Shiva Baby's Rachel Sennott is Irresistible — Even when She's Not Covered in Schmear". from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ Sennott, Rachel [@Rachel_Sennott] (January 28, 2020). "Sending the haters nothing but love because I was raised Catholic and Catholicism is all about being condescending" (Tweet). from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Slamdance 2020: The Messy Awkwardness of Adolescence in "Tahara"". Independent Magazine. February 18, 2020. from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ "Simsbury High School Grad Lands Part In ABC Sitcom". Simsbury, CT Patch. January 28, 2021. from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Escandon, Rosa. "24-Year-Old Rachel Sennott Is Always Juggling Projects". Forbes. from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Halabian, Layla (May 14, 2020). "How Rachel Sennott Is Turning The "Hot Girl" Trope On Its Head". Nylon. from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Mikel, Ryan (March 19, 2018). "Tisch Alumna Talks Sugar Babies, Shivas and SXSW". Washington Square News. from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Chee, Karen (February 9, 2018). "@Rachel_Sennott on Being Personal, Snarky, and Wanting to Be Liked". Vulture. from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "Puke Fest with Rachel & Moss". NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL. October 2, 2019. from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "Time Out New York's Comedians to Watch 2019". Time Out New York. January 8, 2019. from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "The Six Hottest Comedians from NYC's Burgeoning Alt-Comedy Scene". Popdust. March 29, 2019. from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Fricker, Gen (June 17, 2020). "Gen Fricker: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Kelly-Clyne, Luke (March 26, 2019). "Join Rachel Sennott's Baby Cult If You Dare". Vulture. from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "The Musicians Behind 'Bump This' Talk Titties and Tequila". PAPER. January 10, 2020. from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (September 28, 2020). "Sherri Shepherd To Recur on ABC's Kari Lizer Comedy Series 'Call Your Mother'". Deadline. from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ a b Martin, Clare (May 28, 2020). "Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott Are Singularly Funny". pastemagazine.com. from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "Why Introverts Make Great Comedians". Refinery29. from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Escandon, Rosa. "Comedy Central And Refinery29 Announce Two All-Female Digital Shows". Forbes. from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "8 Funny Women Interview Each Other In Speak Up". Refinery29. from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "Slamdance 2020: The Messy Awkwardness of Adolescence in "Tahara"". Independent Magazine. February 18, 2020. from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Cohen, Anne (September 14, 2020). "Sex, Death & Lox: Shiva Baby Is An Instant Coming-Of-Age Classic". Refinery29. from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ "'Tahara' review: A slow-burning drama about unrequited LGBTQ love". Metro Weekly. October 17, 2020. from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ a b Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra (September 8, 2020). "SHIVA BABY (TIFF20) – Review by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS". from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ Castillo, Monica (September 16, 2020). "TIFF 2020: The Disciple, New Order, Wildfire, Shiva Baby | Festivals & Awards". RogerEbert.com. from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ Kleinmann, James (September 11, 2020). "TIFF 2020 Film Review: Shiva Baby ★★★★★". The Queer Review. from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ Parker, Andrew (September 11, 2020). "Shiva Baby | TIFF 2020 Review". The GATE. from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ de Vore, Alex (October 13, 2020). "2020 Santa Fe Independent Film Festival: 'Shiva Baby' Review". Santa Fe Reporter. from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Bernstein, Jesse (November 5, 2020). "Film Festival Moves Online for 40th Anniversary". Jewish Exponent. from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ "At revitalized SXSW Film Festival, moviegoers bask in the 'universal language' of cinema". Los Angeles Times. March 18, 2022. from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (March 15, 2022). "Bodies Bodies Bodies SXSW Review: Rich Gen-Z Brats Get Dead In Horror Comedy From Director Halina Reijn". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ Olcese, Abby. "SXSW 2022: The Prank, Apollo 10 ½, Bodies Bodies Bodies | Festivals & Awards". RogerEbert.com. from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "'Bodies Bodies Bodies' Review: A Terrific Horror Comedy Evisceration Of TikTok-Era Entitlement & Rich, Gen-Z Privilege". The Playlist. from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Gyarkye, Lovia (March 15, 2022). "Pete Davidson and Amandla Stenberg in 'Bodies Bodies Bodies': Film Review | SXSW 2022". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Daniels, Robert (March 15, 2022). "'Bodies Bodies Bodies' Review: Halina Reijin's Slasher Comedy Takes Aim at Gen Z". IndieWire. from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Motamayor, Rafael (March 21, 2022). "Bodies Bodies Bodies Review". IGN. from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ Conway, Megan (September 12, 2022). "Rachel Sennott Just Wants You to Have the Time of Your Life". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (April 6, 2021). "'Shiva Baby' Team Sets Comedy 'Bottoms' With Orion Pictures, Brownstone Productions (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Nulf, Jenny (March 14, 2023). "SXSW Film Review: I Used To Be Funny". www.austinchronicle.com. from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Jacob, Lola (July 7, 2022). "Rachel Sennott joins the cast of 'The Idol' starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp". Coup De Main Magazine. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ Barasch, Alex (June 6, 2023). ""The Idol" Is All Smoke and Mirrors". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ Murphy, J. Kim (July 26, 2023). "'Susie Searches' Review: Kiersey Clemons' True Crime Podcaster Attracts More Attention Than She Bargained For". Variety. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (August 29, 2022). "Saverio Costanzo Talks 'Finalmente L'alba' in Which Lily James Plays a 1950s Hollywood Star at Cinecittà – First Look Image (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 18, 2024). "HBO Orders Rachel Sennott Comedy Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ "The Candid, Unhinged Comedy of". Nylon. May 14, 2020. from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ "From Subway Rides to Breakfast in a Diner, What 13 Prominent New Yorkers Miss the Most Right Now". Vogue. May 15, 2020. from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
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- ^ Grobar, Matt (February 16, 2023). "'Holland, Michigan': Rachel Sennott, Lennon Parham, Isaac Krasner & Jeff Pope Latest To Join Thriller At Prime Video". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (January 19, 2024). "The Fablemans Star Gabriel LaBelle To Play Lorne Michaels In Sony's SNL 1975, Cooper Hoffman And Rachel Sennott Also Join Ensemble". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Hayes, Dade; Petski, Denise (August 21, 2022). "'The Idol': HBO Releases New Teaser For Music Industry Drama". Deadline. from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
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- ^ a b "2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards Winners: See The Full List". MTV.