Will Ferrell has revealed he once did stand-up for jurors in the OJ Simpson trial.
The Elf actor was recalling his “most bizarre” gig during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, which airs on Friday evening.
Former NFL player Simpson was tried and acquitted for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995.
Ferrell explained that he was drafted in to perform a sketch show for jurors during a break in the trial, saying that they seemed “mildly entertained.”
“I was doing improv at the Groundlings Theatre in LA at the same time the OJ Simpson trial was going on,” Ferrell recalled.
“The jury was sequestered for a long time and couldn’t go anywhere, so someone came up with the idea of performing our sketch show for them in the court to lighten the mood.”
He added “It was just us and the jurors. They seemed mildly entertained, but it was very bizarre.”
Ferrell appeared on Norton’s chat show with Reese Witherspoon to promote their new wedding comedy, You’re Cordially Invited.
Witherspoon shared her own court story, admitting that jurors thought she had been to law school because of her role in the 2001 comedy, Legally Blonde.
“About seven years after Legally Blonde came out I was called up to do two solid weeks,” the actress said.
“When we went to deliberation and it came to choosing a foreman, the entire jury picked me. When I asked them why, they said it was because I went to law school!”
Asked about working together, Witherspoon said jokingly: “We met on Saturday Night Live in 2001 and 22 short years later we came up with an idea [to do their movie]!”
“I actually said yes to the movie and working with Will before I knew what the plot was, I just wanted to do it.”
Ferrell added: “I had the best time, and it would be a dream to work together again.”
The Anchorman star also talked about critically-acclaimed documentary, Will & Harper, which followed the comedian as he went on a road trip with his best friend who was transitioning.
Ferrell said: “The reaction has been surprising. We really didn’t know what we had. It has been a remarkable time for Harper.
“She was so brave to tell her story, and she has become a centrepiece for continuing to fight for trans rights around the world and especially in the United States right now.”
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One, Friday 24th January 10.40pm.
