'He was a bit worried about my mental health' - Rachel McAdams recounts on-set pranks with Will Ferrell during 'Eurovision Song Contest' filming
Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrell reflect on their first onscreen partnership in Netflix's 'Eurovision Song Contest' - including dialect inspirations and on-set pranks.
Updated : October 20, 2023 05:25 PM ISTRachel McAdams and Will Ferrell reflect on their first onscreen partnership in Netflix's 'Eurovision Song Contest' - including dialect inspirations and on-set pranks.
Rachel McAdams (Source: Vulture)
"I’m copying my wife’s Swedish cousins, to be honest," confessed Will Ferrell, harking back to the days of crafting eccentric Icelandic accents for his role alongside Rachel McAdams in the Netflix original comedy, 'Eurovision Song Contest'.
Ferrell and McAdams: Crafting Icelandic Accents
Playing the part of fame-thirsty Icelanders forming the musical duo, Fire Saga, Ferrell and McAdams vied against various musical acts in the world-famous singing competition. Besides their flamboyantly campy metallic and glittery costumes, the actors' version of Icelandic accents, worked on with real-life inspirations, captured audiences worldwide.
During a nostalgic Good Morning America appearance, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter in 2020, both actors expressed gratitude towards those who aided them in honing their movie dialects. McAdams found her muse in Icelandic pop icon, Bjork. Alongside family members and pop culture icons, the actors also collaborated with dialect coaches and Icelandic actors to perfect their accents.
From Wedding Crashers to Eurovision
This Netflix parody marks the first onscreen collaboration between the two, even though both had roles in 'Wedding Crashers'. Since the 2005 film, McAdams confessed she had "always hoped the stars would align and somehow I would get to actually talk to him in a movie." And as destiny would have it, the duo eventually filmed together across different European locations for the 'Eurovision Song Contest'.
This resulted in not just memorable performances, but also unforgettable on-set pranks, with Ferrell in the center. "One evening, we looked up and above and at this third-story window this woman in dark sunglasses … was just staring down at us," Ferrell recounted. He continued, "I said, ‘Rachel don’t look now but that’s the ghost of Main Street,’ and it freaked Rachel out so much that I had my makeup artist dress exactly like that." Ferrell’s prank went so far that it had McAdams' "mental health" under suspicion, leading the prankster to reveal his act.
Reliving the laughter and camaraderie, the Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, continues to hold a special place in the Netflix library since its release on June 26, 2020. The movie stands as a testimony to Ferrell and McAdams' chemistry, both on and off-screen, making their first onscreen collaboration a delightful watch.
(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)