Hugh Laurie is a versatile British artist renowned for his exceptional talents in acting, music, and writing. He achieved widespread acclaim for his role as the irritable yet brilliant Dr. Gregory House in the medical drama series House, M.D., garnering critical praise, numerous accolades, and a dedicated global following.
In addition to his acting prowess, Laurie displays his musical proficiency by playing the piano and guitar and has even released albums to showcase his musical abilities. With a career spanning several decades, Hugh Laurie continues to captivate audiences with his charm and artistic excellence.
Hugh Laurie’s Convincing American Accent Helped Him
In the casting phase of House, the producers famously emphasized their desire for a “quintessentially American actor” to embody the character of Dr. House. However, the irony lies in their ultimate selection of British actor Hugh Laurie, who secured the role thanks to his audition tape featuring an astonishingly convincing American accent.
So convincing was Laurie’s portrayal that it reportedly deceived even Bryan Singer, the director of the pilot episode, who enthusiastically pointed to the tape and said (via USA Today):
“See, this is what I want: an American guy.”
In pursuit of authenticity, Laurie fully committed to mimicking Dr. House’s distinctive limp, to the extent that even in 2015, eight years after portraying the character, he continued to walk with a slight limp. Remarkably, Laurie’s dedication led him to occasionally switch the leg bearing the “limp,” a subtle adjustment that went unnoticed by both the production crew during filming and viewers in the years following the show’s conclusion.
Evidently, Laurie’s acting prowess is of such high caliber that he can effectively divert attention from his British accent and the occasional inconsistency in the leg he portrayed as limping, despite these being defining characteristics of the character.
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Hugh Laurie Became A S*x Symbol After House MD
Hugh Laurie had built a stellar reputation through years of outstanding comedic acts in England. However, House marked a profound shift in his career. It wasn’t just a shift towards drama; it introduced a dimension of allure and s*xiness to his repertoire.
Hugh Laurie as Eldon Chance
This marked an entirely novel territory for Hugh Laurie. During a collective interview with GQ, Sela Ward disclosed that she, playing House’s ex, Stacy, had the distinction of being the first person Laurie had ever kissed on screen. Despite the audience’s appreciation, such on-screen kisses would remain a rarity.
Jennifer Morrison told GQ:
“We, the cast and the crew, all loved when people started calling Hugh ‘sexy’ because he really is the sexiest. The thing is, he is obviously an incredibly handsome man, but he’s also truly a Renaissance man… We all felt he was rightfully endowed with his sex-symbol title.”
Laurie found himself utterly perplexed by the reception his character received. House MD is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
