Two years ago, on a Wednesday afternoon in downtown Iowa City, Will Ferrell was spotted outside Deadwood Tavern with his longtime friend, Iowa City native former and SNL writer Harper Steele, as they filmed a soon-to-be Netflix documentary.
Steele, 63, returned to her hometown on Monday on the heels of that successful film, “Will and Harper," to touch on trans rights, comedy and childhood memories.
Steele was also awarded the University Lecture Committee’s 2024-2025 Notable Iowan Award on Monday, honoring her decorated Hollywood career in comedy.
“This award celebrates an accomplished Iowan who has gone on to do amazing things with their career, and this is just a gesture of a thank you to a native Iowan for coming back and sharing their stories with us,” said University Lecture Committee member, Seth Dickinson.
The Englert Theatre event began with a packed-to-capacity screening of the documentary that follows Ferrell and Steele as they travel from New York City to Los Angeles. The trip came together after Steele informed her longtime friends in 2020 that she was transitioning.
Steele, 63, returned to her hometown on Monday on the heels of that successful film, “Will and Harper," to touch on trans rights, comedy and childhood memories.
Steele was also awarded the University Lecture Committee’s 2024-2025 Notable Iowan Award on Monday, honoring her decorated Hollywood career in comedy.
“This award celebrates an accomplished Iowan who has gone on to do amazing things with their career, and this is just a gesture of a thank you to a native Iowan for coming back and sharing their stories with us,” said University Lecture Committee member, Seth Dickinson.
The Englert Theatre event began with a packed-to-capacity screening of the documentary that follows Ferrell and Steele as they travel from New York City to Los Angeles. The trip came together after Steele informed her longtime friends in 2020 that she was transitioning.
