Will Ferrell is undoubtedly one of the OGs of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ creating classic hilarious characters and helping shape one of the show’s strongest eras. But when he first landed a spot on the legendary sketch series, confidence wasn’t something Ferrell felt.
Instead of celebrating without hesitation, the actor/comedian doubted if he even deserved it. Looking back, he admitted that getting his big break came with a huge amount of guilt, especially considering the people he had initially worked with.
Will Ferrell’s Impostor Syndrome After Securing SNL Part
For those who don’t know, Ferrell spent three years with the Groundlings, a famous Los Angeles improvisational comedy troupe. Eventually, the comedian managed to receive an audition with Lorne Michaels, the creator of ‘Saturday Night Live.’
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However, the success seemed a bit bitter to Ferrell because some other members of the troupe had waited much longer for their break. As a result, he didn’t shy away from admitting how hard it was for him to appreciate his success because he believed that he had cheated those whom he respected.
“I got SNL with a bit of a guilty conscience,” he confessed. “There were people who had been at the Groundlings for six or seven years and became my teachers; for me to then get picked for SNL after three years, I was, like, ‘Um, sorry I got this.'”
In addition, Ferrell shared his thoughts using a very accurate comparison. He called himself a “mouse” that has managed to find the hunk of cheese that no one else could reach. Despite his self-doubt, Ferrell thrived on the show through his sheer talent.
During his run from 1995 to 2002, he took on many hilarious characters, including the Spartan Cheerleader Craig Buchanan, clubber Steve Butabi, and impression-based people like Alex Trebek and George W. Bush.
Ferrell starred in many absurd sketches, including ‘More Cowbell,’ ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ and ‘The Spartan Cheerleaders,’ quickly winning the hearts of millions of viewers. His impression of the former US President remains one of the show’s funniest appearances.
SNL Success Allowed Ferrell To Develop His Comedy Career
Although Ferrell had certain regrets about leaving the Groundlings so early, he managed to work with many who influenced his development. One of Ferrell’s most influential collaborators was Adam McKay, who worked on several popular films.
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These include ‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,’ ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,’ ‘Step Brothers,’ ‘The Other Guys,’ and ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.’ Ferrell also produced ‘The Big Short,’ the Oscar-winning film created by McKay.
However, his partnership with McKay ended in a dispute over casting for the HBO series ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,’ during which McKay cast someone as Pat Riley without consulting Ferrell.
Nevertheless, Ferrell’s career includes much more than just one creative partnership. Following his success at SNL, the comedian became one of the few SNL cast members to develop a movie career. Some of his films became classics, such as ‘Elf,’ ‘Old School,’ and ‘Blades of Glory.’
In recent years, Ferrell received praise for producing highly praised shows like ‘Succession’ and ‘May December,’ while his documentary ‘Will & Harper’ showed another facet of the actor’s work. So, what started as a journey with imposter syndrome has turned into a highly celebrated career over time.
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