When we gave PEOPLE.COM readers the chance to ask America's top-grossing funnyman anything, many of you wanted to know about one thing: his rich, curly head of hair. While he doesn't perm (five of you asked), Ferrell, 39, has been known to do most anything else for laughs. In Stranger Than Fiction, he plays it relatively straight as a man who suddenly discovers he is the main character in a novel. He sat down with PEOPLE's Oliver Jones to answer your questions.

What kind of things make you laugh?
NICOLE SIPE, Elkton, Va.

Inappropriate behavior makes me laugh. Yelling at people for no reason in a public place. Yet I don't think I'm such a fan of the Jackass brand of inappropriate behavior. I prefer clever inappropriate behavior, where you don't necessarily wound yourself.

How did you propose to your wife [actress Viveca Paulin, 37]? Was it in a funny way or was it all serious?
ILIANA QUINTANA, Payson, Utah

It started serious but ended up comedic. I took her to this beach where we had had one of our first dates. She wanted none of it. She was like, "The beach is creepy at night." I was like, "Shut up, this is supposed to be really romantic." I was trying to think of what I was going to say and it just turned into, "So I, uh, really like you and, uh, anyway...." Then I went down to a knee—at least I think I did—and proposed. So it was kind of funny, but not on purpose.

How do you keep those gorgeous curls so curly after having to do Ron Burgundy hair, Zoolander hair and so on?
MELANIE BAILEY, Buffalo, N.Y.

I wear wigs—except for Zoolander. Zoolander was my real hair. That is where I learned you don't actually have to bleach your hair till you go bald. The hair person was like, "I'm surprised it hasn't all fallen out."

Why do you like to run around in your underwear in your movies?
EMILY BULTMAN, Milwaukee, Wis.

I am not an exhibitionist by any means, but it really seems to bug people. So for that reason alone I am going to keep doing it.

I'm a pretty shy person until you get to know me, and I wish I was more outgoing like you. Do you have any advice for people on how to let go of their inhibitions?
JENNA KRIMBILL, Tulsa, Okla.

Wow, I can really relate. I always just forced myself to do crazy things in public. In college I would push an overhead projector across campus with my pants just low enough to show my butt. Then my friend would incite the crowd to be like, "Look at that idiot!" That's how I got over being shy.

You picked a unique name for your son Magnus [age 2]. How did you choose it?
MALLORY POPE, Huntsville, Ala.

My wife was born in Sweden, and we loved the idea of a Scandinavian name. I've gotten a lot of flack: "What kind of ego do you have to have to name your child 'the great one'?" That is not it at all.

Is it hard being so sexy?
MORGAN CASAREZ, San Francisco, Calif.

It is just what it is, you know, like the air we breathe. Why does the sun rise every morning? It is just a truth.

For more of Will Ferrell's answers, go to PEOPLE.COM/FERRELL