FILMCLUB Meets Will Ferrell

The education charity talks comedy with the funnyman…

Education charity FILMCLUB, in association with BAFTA, has been exclusively chatting to one of film’s funniest men - Will Ferrell - about his career, favourite roles, comedy influences and his new film.

The Golden Globe-nominated actor, who has over the last decade cemented his status as one of America’s funniest men, and was in London to take part in a special BAFTA Presents “A Life In Pictures” event. 

The event celebrated the comic’s career, which has included some of the most popular comedy films in recent years including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Elf, Zoolander, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, The Other Guys and Stranger Than Fiction, and the forthcoming film Everything Must Go, which shows a different side to his usual acerbic wit. 

When asked about the character he plays in his new film, he said; “I played Nick Halsey, and basically it’s the story of a man who is kinda trying to re-figure out his life.  His wife has left him for his issues and he comes home to find that he is completely locked out of his house with all of his possessions on the front lawn and he decides to make this statement by sitting on his front lawn and figuring out what he is going to do next.”

Ferrell, currently one of film’s biggest comedy heroes, told the charity who influenced his comedy style; “There are so many, I was a big fan of Peter Sellars growing up and Steve Martin, and the original cast of Saturday Night Live. And now, I love Sasha Baron Cohen, Seth Rogan and Jonah Hill, and guys like that – a lot of people.”

When quizzed, the actor - who has played a variety of different roles throughout his career - revealed his favourite; “My favourite character I’ve gotten to play is Ron Burgundy.  Anchorman was such a hard movie to get made, no-one really wanted to make it and it took us about 3 years to get it made and its been so fun to see it as this film that a lot of people view as their favourite.”

When FILMCLUB, who encourages young people to watch and learn through a variety of films, asked the actor to reveal favourite film, Ferrell cited a 1984 David Lynch sci-fi classic; “My favourite film of all time?  Probably Dune! With Sting!”

To watch the Will Ferrell interview in full, find out more about FILMCLUB, or just browse great film recommendations, visit: www.filmclub.org

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