Will Ferrell enjoyed 'Must Go' dramatic role

Will Ferrell has claimed that he enjoyed the chance to explore a darker character in the new film Everything Must Go.

While the actor has been primarily known for broad comedic roles in films like Anchorman and Step Brothers, Ferrell told The Washington Post that his primary focus when accepting any job is to create a relatable character.

"I think I've always viewed myself as a comedic actor, with an underline under the word 'actor'," he said. "And it's always been important to me, no matter how outlandish the character or situation, to play it very real within the context of what was going on."

In Everything Must Go, Ferrell portrays an alcoholic who tries to begin a new life after losing both his job and his wife.

When approaching such dramatic subject matter, the star said that he and filmmaker Dan Rush attempted to create a humanising portrait of a man whose life has fallen completely apart.

He explained: "[Rush and I agreed that] we'd err on the side of underplaying everything. There are a lot of ways to play that, and I told Dan, I'm just fearful - and he shared the same fear - of going too broad with it. You don't want to get a close-up of my shaky hand grabbing for the beer can. It's such a slippery slope."

Everything Must Go is to premiere in limited release on May 13 in the US. A UK release date has yet to be announced.

> Will Ferrell 'taped himself getting drunk'

Watch the trailer for Everything Must Go below: