Will Ferrell has opened up about the acting role he found to be the most challenging, and his answer might catch you off guard.
The well-loved actor, aged 57, has a remarkable portfolio featuring characters like Buddy the elf, sex addict and figure skater Chazz Michael Michaels, and San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy. His career in film and television is extensive.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t the task of acting as a cheerful elf or mastering ice skating that Ferrell found the most difficult.
Despite his numerous comedic film roles, Ferrell identifies his time on Saturday Night Live as a blend of enjoyment and hard work.
While on the long-standing NBC show, Ferrell participated in numerous iconic and frequently quoted sketches, such as ‘More Cowbell’, ‘Spartan Cheerleaders at Tryouts’, ‘Dr. Beaman’s Office: Test Results’, and a 2002 ‘Weekend Update’ segment with Britney Spears.
He also amused audiences with his portrayals of George W. Bush, Dr. Phil, and Alex Trebek.
Ferrell was a key member of the iconic sketch comedy show from 1995 to 2002. As the show marks its 50th season, Ferrell reflects on his experiences with nostalgia.
“I had a wonderful seven seasons on that show, where I made lifelong friends,” he shared with People.
“I knew in that moment it would be the hardest but most fun job I would ever get to do, and I still look back on it that way.
“It’s really an amazing thing that you have this live television show that still continues to put its finger on the pulse of what we’re all thinking about, and it’s a real credit to [creator] Lorne [Michaels] or having thought of it in the first place.”
Ferrell also stated: “It was the one thing I always dreamed about being a part of. “It’s kind of enormous to think about in a way, 50 years of what has really defined American comedy.”
As Christmas draws near, it’s time to revisit Elf. No matter how often you watch Buddy’s quest to find his father in New York City, it never loses its charm.
Ferrell has shared some behind-the-scenes insights from the 2003 holiday comedy, including an incident that left his on-screen father, the late James Caan, a bit annoyed.
The Barbie star disclosed that Caan, who passed away in 2022, didn’t need to put much effort into balancing Ferrell’s performance, as he genuinely didn’t find him amusing.
He recalled: “James Caan – may he rest in peace, and we had such a good time working on that movie – he would tease me.
“We’d be in between setups, he was like, ‘I don’t get you. You’re not funny.’ And I’m like, ‘I know! I’m not Robin Williams.’
“He’s like, ‘People ask me, ‘Is he funny?’ And I’m like, ‘No, he’s not funny!’ It was all with love.”