After Being Praised For Being An Amazing Ally To The Trans Community, Will Ferrell Said Dressing Up As A Woman For Comedy Is Something He “Wouldn’t Choose To Do Now”

Will Ferrell was the center of online conversations last week after the trailer for his new Netflix documentary, Will & Harper, was met with viral praise.

The documentary centers on the relationship between Will and his best friend, Harper Steele, as they head out on a cross-country road trip. Harper and Will met in the ‘90s when they worked together on Saturday Night Live, and in 2022, Harper came out as a transgender woman.

The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January. At the time, Will told Variety that he had “zero knowledge” about the trans community before Harper came out to him over email.

If you’ve not seen it yet, the trailer is both joyful and incredibly moving. It was met with a warm reception last week, with many praising Will for his willingness to be open and learn about Harper’s experience.

Now, Will has talked more about how his attitude has evolved throughout his career, particularly when it comes to comedy.

Appearing together on the New York Times’ The Interview podcast on Sept. 7, Will and Harper were asked whether there was anything they wrote or appeared in during their time on SNL that they wouldn’t stand by today.

Will also said he’s “sure” he probably regrets “a fair amount” of his comedy choices. Namely, his impersonation of Former United States Attorney General Janet Reno, which the interviewer said “hits a false note now.”

Notably, Harper agreed that the old impersonation “kind of bums [her] out” because it relies on the notion that “a guy in a dress” is “funny.”

Despite her feelings, Harper did consider that she appreciates “a sense of play” in performances.

You can find Will and Harper’s full interview here. Will & Harper will be available to stream on Netflix on Sept. 27.
Will Ferrell and his close friend, former head writer at SNL, Harper Steele embark on a cross-country road trip together after Harper comes out as a trans woman in the documentary film, WILL & HARPER. In select theaters this September and on Netflix September 27. pic.twitter.com/FULaHVuMkR

— Netflix (@netflix) September 5, 2024

Twitter: @netflix