3 Kelvin

   




obviously this interview is in German, so I translated it for you guys. While I tried to be accurate, please bear in mind that some things might sound different than what one would expect from Hugh after his words have been translated twice. The text might now flow nicely, but I didn't want to be too "inventive" with the translation. (Americanisms, errors and any other oddities are probably mine ;-) )

House Visit

He is bad tempered and successful like no other TV doc: Dr. House
We met star Hugh Laurie for an interview - and give away what happens in the new episodes.


He is the biggest son of a bitch TV currently has to offer: Dr House is cynical, crabby and he hates his patients. Despite that he is the doctor viewers trust. Up to six million Fans tune in every Tuesday (RTL, 21:15), when Gregory House comes up with brilliant diagnoses. In contrast to the evil doctor though, laughter seems to be the best medicine for Hugh Laurie (47). The Brit doesn't have a lot in common with his staring role. He is polite, funny and doesn't have anything against people. An exclusive interview about crankiness, boxing with kids and his band.

TV DIGITAL: At the start the show "Dr. House" was a sensation: At its center, for the first time, a doctor without compassion for his patients. That was outrageous. Then came seasons two and three...
HUGH LAURIE:... this question cannot end well!

To the contrary: The success of the show is growing with every season. How do you explain that?
To be honest, I'm too superstitious to give an answer. Of course I have my own theories. Younger viewers might like him for being rebellious and not abiding by the rules and whatever other qualities teenagers have. The slightly older fan ponders like their hero over the political correctness of the modern world and resists appropriate behavior. I think even hearing the word "appropriate" makes House nauseous.

Lets see how much you are like your character: What is the biggest medical advancement for Dr House? And which pill is Hugh Laurie eternally grateful for?
Statistically Penicillin has saved the most lives. But just recently I was invited as a guest speaker at a hospital for charity. There was a banner over the podium that read "Laughter is the best medicine!" I worked up a sweat over that, because I felt obligated to be funny. What has saved my life as Hugh Laurie several times is anesthetics. Without them I'm afraid to [/wouldn't] go to the dentist.

Do you have a favorite TV doctor?
Being British there's only "Dr. Finlay's Casebook" for me, none of the well known American medical shows. Dr Finlay was my role model. Always dapper in a Tweed suit, he almost burst with kindness and understanding. But the biggest influence on me was my father, who was a general practitioner and certainly more like Dr Finlay than Dr House.

Is there a medical case/illness on the show, whose treatment you enjoyed especially?
Here is my problem: As soon as we have finished an episode, I delete it from my memory. I can't remember things that happened more than three days ago. What am I saying? More than three hours ago. But if I had to pick an episode it would be "Autopsy" from season 2. It' s the case of a 12 year old girl, who is suffering from a brain tumor and is facing her certain death with courage. House believes that her courage is a symptom of her tumor, which changes her personality. Unbelievable but true, House, with his skeptical and cynical ways, for once is wrong and has to admit his error. The experience, that virtue and kindness exist in humans, is very humbling for him.

Dr House is easily bored. A lot of his crazy ideas are born out of his aim to amuse himself. Do you know the feeling?
Not really. I don't need much to entertain myself. The simplest things are enough.

What do you do to occupy yourself for example?
Throwing a balled up piece of paper into a waste bin. That keeps me busy for a couple of hours. Really! I always find something: Crosswords, Sudoku, playing the piano. The possibilities to amuse myself are endless. In that regard - and many other things - I'm very different from House. Which is fortunate, because in my profession as an actor, scenes get repeated so often that I' like to shoot myself. It's good that I'm so patient.

What effect does it have playing a grumpy character for years. Doesn't that rub off on you?
If I claim that I've become nicer I will meet with vehement protest from my friends and colleagues. But House's crankiness hasn't rubbed off on me. I've always been able to differentiate between my own personality and that of the characters I play. But I hope that I've become more polite, even if it is only to draw a line between myself and House's rudeness and cussedness. But even that is open to debate, of course.

What is your relationship to your teen-aged children like? Your daughter Rebecca is now 14 years old, your sons Bill and Charlie 16 and 19.
I imagined it to be harder to be the father of teenagers. Maybe I should knock on wood now, so that it doesn't change overnight. So far my three children have only brought me delight. They are my pride and joy. Maybe the distance is an advantage. My wife probably has to bear more fights with them than I do. Our daughter Rebecca is still relatively young, so maybe there are things yet to come. Girls are supposedly more difficult than boys. By and large we men are rather simple.

Family, acting, writing novels. Do you even have time for your band?
Bands! I've got two: one in London and one in Los Angeles. The "Dr.House" soundtrack CD is on the market now. We play two songs on it, I'm at the piano. There is no greater joy for me than making music. My only problem is that right now I don't have [enough] time for it.

Do you have any other hobbies?
Boxing - that clears my head. Unless I get hit in the noggin, then I'm slightly woozy. But the sport is great fun for me. It's a good offset for my work. I'm busy with "Dr.House" for ten months. Time flies [during shooting]. Three minutes in the boxing ring, on the other hand, sometimes seem like eternity.

With whom would you like get into the boxing ring?
Little children. That would heighten my chances of winning considerably. They should be five years of age at the most.

What is happening with your second novel after "The Gun Seller", which you announced some time ago?
It's in the works. I'd like to use this opportunity to publicly apologize to my publisher for the delay. The new novel has been put on hold [slowed down]. Maybe I should just start the third book.

How would you describe your writing style?
A mix between Ian Fleming and Tom Clancy - and first and foremost funny. In any case, it's about espionage.

You are a novelist, father, successful actor, gifted musician - the best prerequisite to be happy. Despite that you've stated that you are suffering from clinical depression?
Yes, but I don't like to talk about that. I'm not asking for pity and sympathy. The subject is also off-limits for a lot of people.

How do you deal with this illness?
Like everyone else. I go to a psychiatrist.


Interview: Anke Hofmann

I won't translate all the little captions, unless someone wants me to. If you are a Hugh or House fan chances are very good you'll understand what's being said, without knowing German.

I really find it odd that they give away what's coming up "in the new episodes", even though we are still in the middle of season 3 right now. ("Needle in a Haystack" is next). Regular television viewers will be confused why they don't get what was promised here until fall next year. ++scratching head++)