Will Ferrell’s ‘SNL’ pal Harper Steele reveals what ‘still surprises’ her after transitioning

See more of our coverage in your search results. Comedy writer Harper Steele says she’s been “surprised” by a couple of things since beginning her transition in 2022. “It takes me longer to get out of the house; that can sometimes be annoying,” she told Page Six with a laugh at the New York City premiere of “The Good Daughter” on Tuesday. On a more serious note, the former “SNL” head writer, 65, noted that her life since transitioning is now infinitely better. Harper Steele spoke to Page Six at “The Good Daughter” premiere on Nov. 10. Page Six The former “SNL” writer joked that it’s “annoying” how much longer it takes to get ready after transitioning in 2022. Getty Images “Without being too Pollyanna(ish), I do wake up joyful every day, which I didn’t before, that surprises me. It still surprises me,” she shared. Steele starred in the 2024 documentary “Will & Harper,” which documented a 17-day road trip Steele and pal Will Ferrell took across the country after Steele completed her transition. The film — which began after Steele came out as transgender in an email to the “Elf” star in 2021 — was critically acclaimed and won a Peabody Award. She starred in the 2025 documentary “Will & Harper” with pal Will Ferrell. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Steele, seen here in 2025 with Ferrell, says she’s very proud of the documentary. Getty Images for the Hammer Museum Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! “For me, it was such a labor of love,” the screenwriter explained, noting that she is constantly approached by parents with queer kids who have watched the documentary and say it helped them explore those things together. “And that’s the most empowering thing,” she continued. “Like I write a lot of silly comedies, and I don’t get that kind of response…I’m very proud of it.” In “The Good Daughter,” the Emmy winner plays a trans character who is “best friends with the father of the story” and acts as a maternal figure for his friend’s two daughters, played by Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy. Steele co-stars in “The Good Daughter” as a trans woman. Mark Hill/PEACOCK She posed with her co-stars including Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy at Tuesday’s premiere in New York City. Gregory Pace/Shutterstock “I have children, so it’s a role I felt I could take on,” she said before adding, “This is my first acting gig, so yeah, you have to tell me how I did!” “The Good Daughter” is based on the novel of the same name, written by Karin Slaughter. The six-episode limited series follows the Quinn sisters (Byrne and Fahy) as they try to piece together a violent attack on their family more than 20 years later. It’s available to stream now on Peacock.