Wahl of fame
Funnyman Ferrell and pals wow irish fans at star-studded party for movie
STARS IN TOWN FOR DADDY’S HOME 2 PREMIERE:
THE stars of Hollywood smash hit Daddy’s Home 2 wowed hundreds of fans at the Irish premiere last night.
A-list stars Mel Gibson, Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg and John Lithgow arrived in style at the Odeon Point Village, Dublin.
Fans queued for hours to watch their idols descend on the red carpet shortly after 6pm.
TV’S Baz Ashmawy, boxing legend Bernard Dunne, Ireland’s Got Talent star Lucy Kennedy and former Miss World Rosanna Davison joined the glitterati at the star-studded event.
Will revealed himself and Mel are very proud of their Irish roots – both have family connections in Longford.
He told how the four actors had watched Ireland getting slammed against Denmark at the Aviva stadium on Tuesday night.
Will added: “We were all at the football match, we had the best time, all that Danish blood we have, but really our condolences.”
Avid golfers Will and Mark said they managed to fit in a round of golf at the K Club on Wednesday morning ahead of their press commitments.
Mark added: “We had the entire golf course to ourselves, it was beautiful sunny and misty, every 15 minutes the weather changed.
“Will played very well and hit a birdie on 17, it was a magical morning.”
Will joked: “We saw a leprechaun, we just took acid! I mean they were handing it out there cos there’s nothing to do.” Whilst Mel said it was too early for him to join them.
He added: “It was way too early for me, I’m still bathing my haemorrhoids at that hour.”
The star reminisced about making his iconic 1995 movie Braveheart in Ireland and praised the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Michael D Higgins for helping to get the film made.
He said: “We started off in Scotland but it wasn’t horsefriendly or people-friendly, so we came across Michael D and he opened the gates for us.
“He really greased the wheels and helped us get it done. He helped get Braveheart made, now he’s the President, at the time he was the Minister for the Arts.”
Commenting on his affinity with Ireland the megastar admitted his time here was a bit of a blur back then.
He added: “I was getting four hours sleep a night and working
seven days a week. I’ve vague memories of painting myself blue and just turning up.”
Mel also revealed some of the things he loved about Ireland. He told the Irish Mirror: “I think Irish women are adorable. I love them, in fact, I love all women. “I can’t have a pint of Guinness, I took the pledge.
“My favourite thing about Ireland is the brown bread. My mother who hails from Longford used to make it all the time she was a great baker.”
John Lithgow said the addition of himself and Mel in the sequel to Daddy’s Home was a win-win. The Crown star added: “It brought in a whole new dimension having another generation in the movie.
“The creators of the film, Sean Anders and John Morris, refused to make a sequel until they hit on a premise that would make it better and getting myself and Mel involved of course made it better.” Commenting on his Christmas movie Elf, Will said even former president Barack Obama wanted him to don the costume at the White House.
He added: “Everyone assumes I have the Elf costume hanging in my wardrobe.
“Barack Obama wanted me to come to a White House Christmas Party dressed as Elf.
“What’s so miraculous about that movie is it was shot in New York city and I was running through the streets thinking this could be the end, it better be good.”
Mel recently confirmed he has been in talks with co-star Danny Glover and director Richard Donner about a fifth Lethal Weapon movie.
But he gave little away last night when quizzed on plans for the film franchise.
He said: “It’s been a long time so they might have to change the title to Flaccid Weapon or Lethal Haemorrhoids.
“I went to see my co-star Danny Glover in a play the other night with the director of the show who is 87 getting back in the saddle, he’s that good so we might give it another run.”
We were all at the football match. We had the best time. But really, our condolences
WILL FERRELL ON TUESDAY’S IRELAND v DENMARK MATCH AT AVIVA STADIUM