Will Ferrell has some second thoughts about one of his famous SNL characters.
During his time on Saturday Night Live, Ferrell often impersonated Janet Reno, who was the Attorney General back then. In a recent chat with The New York Times, he mentioned that doing that impression is “something I wouldn’t choose to do now.” These days, Ferrell is featured in a new documentary called Will & Harper. He stars alongside his good friend Harper Steele, an SNL writer who came out as transgender two years ago.
Steele feels a bit sad about Ferrell’s new perspective. She said, “It kind of bums me out.” She believes that while dressing up in women’s clothes shouldn’t just be for laughs, there’s still value in actors having fun. “I wonder if sometimes we take away the joy of playing when we take away some of the range that performers, especially comedy performers, can do,” she shared.
Ferrell’s portrayal of Reno showed her as a strong and clumsy figure who broke through walls and hosted “Janet Reno’s Dance Party.” Although it might seem silly now, Reno herself made peace with it. She even joined Ferrell on SNL in 2001 and said the sketch reminded her “how important humor is.”
Sometimes, we forget how much fun comedy can bring to people’s lives.
