In a recent appearance on “The View” to market her recently released memoir, “You With the Sad Eyes,” Christina Applegate talked about the way Will Ferrell and Adam McKay gave her a portion of their “Anchorman” wages after the studio’s initial offer for her to play Veronica Corningstone was significantly less than that of her male fellow actors.
“When they came in with the initial offer, it was, you know, a little offensive,” Applegate penned. “And I said I can’t. I know my worth, and I can’t do that. They wanted me bad enough, and they said, ‘Well, we’re gonna chip in.’ Thank God they did because it was one of the best experiences of my entire life.”
Applegate added, “It was such a lesson. I had never done improv before. Learning from that group of dudes… that is the masterclass that people pay for. Steve Carell, like, taught it. Adam McKay developed an entire new way of doing it with his group. To get in there and have that happen was absolutely magic and it’s been invaluable to me and my career.”
Ron Burgundy, Ferrell’s San Diego news anchor, and the latest female co-anchor, Veronica Corningstone from Applegate, are the main characters in “Anchorman.”
The 2013 follow-up “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” which also featured Applegate, was inspired by the film, which is among the most referenced comedies of the beginning of the 20th century.
