Here's a bit of pop trivia for you - did you know that Will Ferrell's name isn't really Will?
The 'Anchorman' actor revealed in 2020 while on 'The Late Show with James Corden' that his birth name is actually John, although his parents chose to call him by his middle name, Will.
While appearing on the MeSsy podcast, he elaborated on his childhood after podcast host Christina Applegate analysed his choice of favourite films.
She suggested that picks like 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'The Godfather' might suggest that Ferrell felt like something of an outsider growing up, and he agreed, saying "there's a lot of validity in that."
"You know what’s interesting about that? This is like, a minor thing - it’s not really even trauma. I remember being so embarrassed because my real name is John. John William Ferrell," he said. "The first day of school, it’d be ‘John.’ Like, John Farrell. It was so embarrassing to me to have to say, ‘Here - but I go by Will. I don’t go by John."
Did you know Will Ferrell's real name is John?! 🤯
✍️: @TheAshleyGreco
📸: Getty
🎧: MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler pic.twitter.com/wqqoMgLrXj— CHUM 104.5 (@Chum1045) July 9, 2024
He said that he found the experience 'excruciating' at the time, "having to remind the teacher that I’m not John", but looking back is not sure why he was so embarrassed.
'John Farrell' sounds like a perfectly acceptable Irish name to us - and his father's family originates from Longford, after all. He'd slot right in.