Will Forte Takes on His First Dramatic Role in ‘Nebraska’: “The part was way out of my comfort zone”

Will Forte made a name for himself starring on Saturday Night Live. But he’s recently made a career change, starring in several independent films like Alexander Payne's Nebraska.

Will Forte made a name for himself starring on Saturday Night Live.  But he’s recently made a career change, starring in several independent films like Alexander Payne‘s Nebraska.

“I’m the straight man in the movie and the part was way out of my comfort zone,” he said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.  “I’m so used to doing improv and wacky absurd characters, so it was weird to be a little more real.  At first I was nervous and intimidated.  But I also felt this odd connection to the character because there are parts of this movie where I feel like I’m acting like myself in my most vulnerable moments.”

Forte plays the son of a man who is convinced he has won a million-dollar sweepstakes prize and must drive from Montana to Nebraska to claim his prize.  Bruce Dern stars as the father in the dark comedy. The role is definitely a departure for Forte, and although he might be proud of his work, he’s also nervous about people seeing it.“It’s almost hard to watch because people will see what I’m like when I’m sad,” he admitted.

Nebraska recently made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, and will be opening in theaters on November 22.

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