(Credits: Far Out / YouTube Still)
Tue 3 February 2026 5:00, UK
While his old comedy partner Stephen Fry is routinely showered with praise and dubbed a ‘national treasure’, let’s not forget about Hugh Laurie.
In the beginning, the pair’s careers were very much intertwined. They had a sketch show together, appeared in an adaptation of PG Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster, and starred in several episodes of the much-loved sitcom Blackadder, eventually going their separate ways, which is where Mr Laurie would really come into his own.
The former Cambridge University student has amassed a seriously impressive collection of film credits, sharing screen time with Glenn Close, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, and many other huge names, and his stock was so high that he was actually cast as Perry White in Superman Returns before he had to pull out, even though he probably made the right decision, given the benefit of hindsight.
With a bevvy of excellent roles to pick from, it must be impossible for Laurie to pick his favourites. As it turns out, it isn’t. During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2020, the Brit revealed the job he had the most love for, and if we’re being honest, we could have all figured it out well ahead of time.
“I think it would have to be House,” he said. “God, this is such a cruel question. I loved them all, and it’s partly your job to love them all, in a way… I think House was probably, I felt like, the most thrilling adventure that I’d ever been on as an actor, I just thought it was an amazing experience, I was so lucky; so lucky.”
From 2004 to 2012, Laurie appeared as the acerbic genius Dr Gregory House on the Fox series of the same name. Characterised by a gruff voice, a cane, and an instinctive ability to piss off anyone at any given moment, House is a modern incarnation of Sherlock Holmes; a brilliant mind with zero social skills and zero qualms about crossing ethical lines to get the job done.
To say that House did wonders for Laurie’s career would be the understatement to end all understatements, because between 2005 and 2011, he was nominated for ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series’ six times at the Emmys, and although he wasn’t successful there, he did pick up two Golden Globes for the role, as well as two SAG awards, two Television Critics Association awards, and plenty more besides.
In real terms, the show transformed Laurie into a household name across the pond, with the Guinness Book of World Records describing him as the most-watched leading man on television in 2011, while he would routinely appear in lists of the highest-paid stars on the box.
It’s extremely refreshing for an actor to unashamedly praise their most successful and lucrative role, because Laurie clearly understands how important Dr House has been to his overall career, and it’s nice to know that he had a great time playing him, which is not bad at all, considering he auditioned for the show in his bathroom.
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