Hollywood actor Will Ferrell has revealed his trip Down Under could inspire him to make an Australian tennis movie, during a hilarious press conference at the Australian Open.
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In the country on a holiday with his wife and friends, the 50-year-old Anchorman star and tennis fan spoke highly of the grand slam tournament, the city of Melbourne and described Australians as "some of the most friendly people you'll come across".
Ferrell was a surprise addition to the Australian Open stands this week, interviewing Roger Federer on Sunday and giving a surprise press conference to a packed media room with retired tennis champion Jim Courier on Thursday.
"I had a lot of frequent flyer miles and I wanted to get rid of them," Ferrell joked.
"No, I'm a big tennis fan and I'm with some friends of ours, one of which is married to an Aussie and we just thought, 'What are you doing in January? Let's go check out the Australian Open', and it has exceeded expectations.
"Obviously you've got an amazing venue in Melbourne, a great city," he added, telling media he had become a fixture at Victoria's Yarra Valley wine region.
But the comedian said he was disappointed he hadn't been recognised by locals.
"No one is recognising me and I'm really upset by that. So I've been walking through the streets dressed as many of the characters I've played and people still aren't recognising me, so that's been a little disappointing."
A stalwart of iconic sports comedies such as Blades of Glory and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Ferrell was asked by Courier when he would make a film about tennis.
"I'm probably going to have to play a coach. I'm probably past my prime to play a player unless I'm some 50-year-old guy trying to make the circuit again," he joked.
"There's nothing in the works right now but my visit to the Open may inspire me to make an Australian tennis movie."
Actor Will Ferrell a real highlight at the #ausopen. Here he is at a surprise press conference talking about who the best tennis player in Hollywood is. pic.twitter.com/nNOoH2l8Wu??? Ebony Bowden (@ebonybowden) January 18, 2018
Ferrell also revealed he had been in negotiations to play American tennis champion Bobby Riggs in 2017 film Battle of the Sexes, but the role ultimately went to Steve Carell who stared opposite Emma Stone.
"Steve Carell beat me to the punch," he said. "Also, I'm 6'3 and Bobby Riggs was 5'8"."
When asked who his favourites were to win, the actor said it was anyone's game.
"It's hard to pick against Federer and I think that's what so exciting right now about men's and women's tennis. It's never been more wide open."
