Will Ferrell wipes away tears as he talks about transgender friend while promoting new Netflix documentary

Will Ferrell was emotional as he spoke about his best friend Harper Steele’s transition at an event in London on Sunday.

The 57-year-old actor and Steele, the former head writer of Saturday Night Live, took part in a question-and-answer session during a preview for their upcoming Netflix documentary Will & Harper at BFI Southbank.

In the documentary directed by Josh Greenbaum, Ferrell and Steele, who came out as transgender at age 61, go on a road trip where they discuss Steele’s transition.

The Irvine, California-born star held back tears during a conversation with Greenbaum about how he spoke to Steele about the issue, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The elf star said, ‘I don’t want to make a mistake – I don’t want to ask the wrong way.’

Ferrell continues, “We just wanted to capture a conversation between two friends and bring it to a level where hopefully the audience can listen to me ask these questions to my dear friend.”

Ferrell said Harper allows him to “make those mistakes and encourages him [him] to ask.’

Greenbaum said of capturing the friendship, “I love him so much, and both of those people, that it’s a gift to be able to express that in a film.

But I just hope [Ferrell] still gets all the love he deserves. Because he brought so much good into the world. And we often take for granted comedians who bring us joy and love throughout our lives and make our daily lives a lot easier, so I hope he feels that.’

When Ferrell wiped his eyes, Steele joked, “What is this bullshit?”

Steele recounted an emotional moment she had years ago in London.

“I was in London shooting a film with Will just before the pandemic, about Eurovision,” Steele said. “And I was right on the cusp of this experience, but it was a difficult time for me in London.

‘And walking around London, going to get my Greggs sausage as myself, finally, it was just such a joy. Thank you.’

The documentary also features cameos from SNL stars Tina Fey, Seth Meyers and Kristen Wiig.

Ferrell said that during the two-week-plus road trip, “every day was a highlight” because he and Steele “just wanted to make each other laugh all the time.”

He added: ‘The highlights included Harper showing us pictures of herself on a unicycle, the way she used to ride around Iowa City, and then she was standing in front of her childhood home and all of a sudden this young girl on a unicycle showed up… crazy… and they didn’t recognize me.

“Then Harper gets on and rides this unicycle in heels. Between that and our chance meeting in the Grand Canyon with a retired therapist who is trying to make amends for a situation she felt she didn’t know how to deal with and Harper who offers her comfort.”

Ferrell added: “Getting to surprise Harper in a pool with my speedo… those were so many highlights.”

Ferrell said earlier this month that he looks back with regret on his impression of the late Janet Reno on Saturday Night Live.

Ferrell said The New York Times Podcast On September 7, he spoke about his previous impersonation on the NBC comedy show: “I wouldn’t do that now.”

Ferrell, who appeared on the podcast with Steele, said the impression he had of the late U.S. attorney general “is now incorrect.”

Reno, who served under former President Bill Clinton, died in November 2016 at age 78 from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

In his impersonation of Reno, Ferrell dressed as a drag queen in a series regular role titled Janet Reno’s Dance Party, in which he performed in sketches opposite former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and actor Kevin Spacey, who himself dressed as a drag queen to play former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala.

Reno, the first woman to hold the position, appeared in the segment herself after leaving the Justice Department in January 2001.

Steele said that in retrospect the piece was “absolutely not funny” and that its comedic value was minimal.

“It makes me a little sad — I get that it’s a tragic laugh,” Steele said. “It’s, ‘Hey, look at this guy in a dress, and that’s funny’ — it’s not funny at all.

“It’s definitely a way we should be able to live in the world. But with performers and actors, I like a sense of play.”

In the podcast, the Anchorman actor said there were “quite a few” segments “where you regretted the choice to be in it.”

The Elf star added: “I mean, in a way the actors are kind of given a mandate, so I’m going to blame the writers,” to which Steele jokingly remarked: “Yeah, he’s not at fault at all.”

Ferrell said in a 1998 interview with The Washington Post magazine that he wanted to give Reno a “broad and physical” presence, and that he found the idea of ​​a “big woman who abuses people” funny.

Ferrell added: “Originally, I wanted her to be a sort of bodyguard for President Clinton. They would sit in on the Cabinet meetings and she wouldn’t say anything. And then if Clinton didn’t like the person, she would say, ‘Bill, do you want me to get rid of him?'”

Ferrell, who developed the piece with former SNL writer Scott Wainio, told the publication, “We just created a badass woman living in a fictional world.”

According to the newspaper, Reno said of the sketches in 1998: “I just thought it was some kind of parody of this 6-foot-1 old girl. I don’t know why anyone would be so interested in me.”

Ferrell told the newspaper that year about the impersonation, “I just sound like she looks… I hate to have to reduce it to something as simple as her being tall, but it’s almost that simple.”

Will & Harper is available on Netflix from September 27.