You probably already know that Will Ferrell is a very funny man, but what you may not know is that the former “Saturday Night Live” standout and newly-minted movie star has a serious side. “My left side has always been very austere,” Ferrell joked at a recent press gathering to promote his new holiday comedy, “Elf.” And the witty repartee didn’t end there. Like Jim Carrey, the mega-star whose career Ferrell seems most likely to emulate, Ferrell is always “on,” whether talking to reporters or mingling with his growing legion of fans. He’s also following Carrey’s lead by tackling a dramatic role, in the upcoming “Winter Passing.” But this winter it’s all about the laughs, and “Elf” is full of them.
Highlights of a recent interview follow. Bear in mind Ferrell was mostly talking out of the right side of his mouth.
QUESTION: What are your favorite memories of Christmas?
WILL FERRELL: I couldn’t tell you because we weren’t allowed to celebrate Christmas in my house. My parents never spoke to me, so it was joyless. A joyless existence.
Q: Your character is basically an oversized kid who wanders the streets of New York City dressed in bright tights and pointy shoes. Were you self-conscious at all about getting into the outfit and becoming Buddy?
WF: It was very easy because he is of the purest intentions. It’s always fun to play someone who is completely earnest, whether it’s someone who’s joyful or boring or mean. To play it straight is the way I like to do it. One of the things that drew me to the script was the chance to play a character without any preconceived notions of the way things should be or how he should act. Kids don’t edit themselves, and neither does Buddy. If he sees something he likes, he gets excited, and if he sees something scary, he gets scared.
Q: Do you have a favorite Christmas movie?
WF: Yeah, I do actually. Probably my favorite Christmas movie is “Days of Thunder” with Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall — the NASCAR movie — because I love the message (it conveys) about trying to drive as fast as you can in a circle, which is really very symbolic. So I watch that every Christmas morning.
Q: Speaking of regular viewing habits, do you still watch “Saturday Night Live”?
WF: I think I watched every show last year, out of curiosity, and also the fact that I’m still friends with all the cast members. After you’ve worked at a place for seven years, it’s kind of natural to want to know what it’s like actually watching it on Saturday, as opposed to being a part of it.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 7, 2003. Read the original PDF.