Stonestreet Studios honors indie actress, writer Rachel Sennott

When Rachel Sennott attended NYU Tisch Drama in 2017, she carried with her a printed one-year, three-year and five-year career plan.

“It's so rare in art school, especially in film school, for people to wear their ambition and passion for their craft on their sleeve like that,” said Emma Seligman who first met Sennott when she auditioned for her thesis film Shiva Baby.

Sennott booked the role and Seligman subsequently became her writing partner.

“It was so weird to meet someone like that,” Seligman said. “I've had the privilege of having a front row seat to watching Rachel's career grow and watching her achieve all of those things on that list that she first shared with me.”

The most recent film they co-wrote was Bottoms in which Sennott starred and Seligman directed. It was released in theaters after having its world premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas and is now available on Prime Video.

"I was obviously so taken with her acting abilities because she was so able to drop into the character with so much naturalism, which is why I cast her because I felt like I knew her," Seligman added. "Also, she made the materials so much funnier with improv and adlibbing. She just understood the role and gave it so much depth, but also levity."

Sennott was awarded the Stonestreet Studios 2023 Granite Award on Nov. 29. Previous Granite Award recipients include Rachel Brosnahan, Camila Mendes, Danny Ramirez, Miles Teller, Ximena Lamadrid, and Nik Walker.

Lamadrid was present to serenade Sennott.

“I’m so proud of you,” said Lamadrid who was honored in 2022. “It’s incredible that you’re producing…that your creating content constantly. That’s the way to go always. As actors, it’s fun to give ourselves the chance to be characters that people wouldn’t see us doing if we didn’t create work for ourselves.”

Sennott also acted in The Idol, and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.