Show of divorce Will Ferrell says he struggled with the feelings of being differ- ent At 36 he reflects on his childhood years Like many children 7 - iM TA- I M- - - 5 ti his IberserkL brandof comedv: Mv--:- - mm not realm an exhibifV£ itiohisvSMll Ferrell inS§ sists 41 in drawn to the Yr - yj ricjust I vf MM 4 Mll' MAl - - Wmm !vsjl 7 A butragebusstuffbe WWWV LJtl jet or I may never work again” y And yet when I first meet Mr Nor-- v Groundlings Since he left the showinH mal during arehearsal ata Manhattan - 2002 to pursue movie roles his wiki-catheater he is tugging a robe over an screen appearances have been a guilty' aggressively green and skimpy cos-'- Jj pleasure for flans and critics! (While on satin bolero top j SNL he appeared m Austin Fowers and V tume: a midriff-harin- g I knee socks and Speedo briefsall to f Zoofandler) What's (he appeal? In th lep- - politically correct times Ferrell’s char- - j yreprise his icky lounge-lizar- d 5 rechaun for late-nigTV host Conan i acters are deliciously inappropriate- - ' from Craig the dorky and clueless male O’Brien's 10th anniversary special Once he disrobes-onstag- e Ferrell’s cheerleader on SNL to “Hank the Tank” creepy boogaloo has O’Brien moan- - ' the sober newly married wonk who ' ing “Eeeuw! Get away from me!"-streaked his frame for miles ' It’s just the kindof in last year’s frat flick Old School berserk performance that inspired - In his first starring role in Elf which Ferrell's seven years of kamikaze crop- - opens next month Ferrell plays “Buddy” tions on Saturday Night Live He snared a guileless button-eye- d bug-hapthis comic brass ring in 1995 when human who was adopted and raised by NBC scouts plucked him from LA’s Santa's North Foie elves and journeys improvisational comedy troupe The to New York City to find his real dad rd ht ' regular-guy-gon- e- py BY GERRI HIRSHEY w r ‘ COVE AND PHOTOGRAPH IN POOL BY ANDREW ECCLES FOX PARADE STYLED BY APRIL JOHNSON AT INDEPENDENT NY CROONING BTJESN STREICHER FOR AATISTSBmMOTHYPlUANOCOM th'jC PAGE 4 OCTOKR i- If - 2003 PAKAOC MAGAZINE ' |