Will Ferrell says he was ‘so embarrassed’ by his real name growing up: ‘Excruciating’
NY Post
Don’t call him John Ferrell.
Will Ferrell revealed on Tuesday’s episode of Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s “MeSsy” podcast that he was “so embarrassed” by his real name — John William Ferrell — as a kid.
“This is a minor thing in terms of — it’s not really even trauma — but I remember feeling so embarrassed because my real name is John, John William Ferrell, so first day of school, I’d be John,” he recalled. “The teacher would be like ‘John Ferrell?’ and it was so embarrassing to me to have to say ‘Here, but I go by Will, I don’t go by John.’ “
The “Anchorman” actor said it was “excruciating” to have to wait until his teachers would remember to call him Will.
Ferrell also clarified to Applegate, 52, that the name change “wasn’t my choice.”
“My parents named [me] John, but they called me Will. I grew up as Will, but on a roll sheet, my legal name is John Ferrell,” he explained.
