Second Chances

THE MAN BEHIND HOUSE

Tue, 29 May 2012 20:49:46 +0200

INTERVIEWS. Before arriving in Buenos Aires, where he will present his first blues album, Hugh Laurie talks exclusively to 7 DAYS: “Music is my first love”, says the artist who this year will leave his legendary Dr. House.

By Florencia Guerrero - Photos: Euge Kais

His look offers nearly the depth of the ocean. English actor Hugh Laurie seems to the gentlemen able to see and understand their limits and perspectives with absolute clarity. You know, for example, he is not easy and, almost imperturbable, then not working at all to get out of that stereotype. It can also recognize that the success achieved for eight seasons embodying Dr. House today bears fruit, allowing even the possibility of taking a sabbatical period away from the “idiot box”.

Today, as the last season of the television series can be viewed on Fox, the main character dares to admit, almost like bragging: “I thought it would last two weeks”. Always impeccable the Englishman bears a certain resemblance the character he played for years: serious, blunt and outspoken.

“The people I meet ask me to change the face, so I guess I should be overly serious. I’ve tried, but I am not a cheerful fellow. I tried many things, including vodka, but do not think there is something that you manage to change my appearance, although “I’m not having that bad” ,jokes the actor that also confirms that idea of “money does not make happiness”. How not to do it for a man who received $400,000 per episode. For his work on television, Laurie won twice the Golden Globe and was multi-candidate to the Emmy. After several years and although he makes an effort to ensure that he is very different to House, to the point of hating him, he looks like a copy of the famous TV character.“No, please, we are not comparable. This man has very limited emotional capabilities and I am a difficult guy, but I fight against that”, he explains.

Before landing in Buenos Aires, where June 8th and 9th he presented under the Personal Pop Festival her first album, Let them talk, the artist spoke exclusively with 7 DAYS. “I love music and I think this is my first love, so now it is almost complete fulfillment for me” he says.

Why did you wait until 2011 to release your first CD?

There were people who in recent years came to me and suggesting…”Would you be interested in recording some music?” And I always apologized, “Oh, no, no, I can´t do it. Maybe someday but not now, I’m not ready”. I was scared, I admit it. But now, we all know that I am a man of 52, when the guy from the record company insisted that he wanted us to do the album, I thought it wouldn´t be smart being another ten years saying it wasn´t the time. I could have recorded this before and I missed it, so now I took chance, I put together all the music I like and I recorded my CD.

After watching him on TV, one imagines he is a man with great courage: Are you ready for critics?

I was a coward, so I didn´t do it before! I know, many will say that this would not have happened if I weren´t so famous, so I think it will be a challenge and I’m ready and open to what I say. I am perfectly aware that my proposal is not at all classical, but I assume the risk. It won´t be easy, I’m an Englishman who achieved fame as a comedian and achieved success in American series, not everyone thinks I can do a blues album. I hope to surprise them, because I really am obsessed with the blues.

You have said that music is an addiction: Who are your musical references?

Well, music is something I’ve always loved. I remember piano lessons that I was forced to take and I hated that because it looked like you weren´t a musician if you didn´t play a classical repertoire. I still think that somehow the monopoly of classical music is one of the great tragedies of life for every musician. I think everyone who plays an instrument has lost large part of his life in that style. I, for one, gave up and stopped playing the piano for ten years until I discovered the blues.

And finally it saw the light?

Something like that! I would say that New Orleans was my Jerusalem. Also I think the question of why a well-to-English schoolboy was hit by a melody born of slavery and oppression in another city on another continent, in another century, it is to be answered by thousands before me: Clapton, the Hollands Joolsing Rolling Stones, to name a few.

Some say the blues is for bohemians, hermits or people in a bad mood: Which of these qualities identify you?

These great artists that enabled this gender were living in courts. Everyone knew the price of a piece of bread and most had days in which couldn´t eat. I mean, they had credentials and I respect that experience like any other, possibly more. I am totally amazed by the life of these people and understand that they were hermits or in a bad mood, but I think my reality is different, so I look like a little more bohemian, and I’m a happy guy, as well.

What do you expect to find in the Argentine public?

I’ve heard they are passionate people, so I’m very interested to meet then. Music is an universal feeling and I hope you can enjoy as much as I do every time I play.

I, THE BEST OF ALL. Before the success of House, Laurie spent years working for British television series and comedies, the film Stuart Little may be the most remembered. Since 1989 he is married to Jo Green, who he has three children with. “I never calculate what might happen and, frankly, we had to get used to this new way of living exposed. I think in the end we succeeded”.

In 2007 you were diagnosed with depression due the distance with your family: Did you exaggerate it or it was really difficult?

I’m a normal person who loves his people. You know, sometimes things can go beyond me and that counts. At that time, for my state, I guess I was seduced speaking of that distance and suffering it greatly at a time. All it pressed to me until I thought that all I did was sit and watch my belly button. Life is not all sunshine, for no one, so I stopped seeing the opaque and concentrate on the light. And, of course, to travel more to see my family.

Your father was a gold medal at the 1948 Olympic Games in rowing, a sport that you also played without much success. He was also a recognized medical, but not like House: Did you need to beat him on something?

(Laughs) It’s something that some believe, but no, I swear I didn´t ask them to give me that role to redeem myself for my bad performance sports!

People say you are a lonely man: Did you ever hate the exhibition reached with House?

A little. Beyond what people belief, this world is not perfect and I like my space, which House took almost entirely. We could say that my problems with the character at first was because he made an effort to be rude and I hate rude people. Now, over time, I learned to see him as a good man, a troublesome, mischievous, and occasionally, very self-destructive. I think he is impatient with some things we all consider important and that does he so tedious at times, but finally he is next to the angels. He has the gift of healing, but I think of him as a good man, a man misunderstood, a troubled man. Of course I would like happiness for him, I believe that happiness would probably make him a better man, a nicer man. But he’s not designed that way, I think it’s not just in his nature, happiness is not something he seeks and I thinks he doesn´t think that’s important.

During these years, How many times in a day did you dream of returning to anonymity?

Come on, let me tell…no, just kidding. The experience of making House has been extraordinary and of course it has given me this incredible opportunity to make the album, something I never have had otherwise. I mean, I’m very aware of it. Without the success of the TV, probably it would not have any recording company knocking on my door, nor I would be recognized as an actor in the United States. So obviously, I am very grateful for all this.

Was it a brave gesture to embody that character?

Yes, I think it was brave to put a character so rude and unsympathetic in the center of a drama, but I also see that the public feels the freedom with which I tried to play the character. Perhaps television is the best place for this type. In real life, someone like House would be in jail or would be killed by someone already. I myself would had it, at times.

What things do you see positive in House?

I guess, I personally like him. I know he lives in a bad mood, people describe him as a bad man, some hate him and they yelled me down the street! But I still like him because in the background he is very funny. I think I feel a great euphoria spending time without concern for his actions and how his words impact in people. House does not care about the social consequences. No matter what people think, it does not care if he is applauded or booed. This “freedom”, knowing the means of flatterers of people I move around, it is somewhat exciting. It lets you get to the truths that others would not dare to face.

In an interview you said: “I think I’m doomed to hell” … Did you behave very badly or are you afraid to inherit sins of his character?

Not at all! I disbelieve much about the concept of general happiness, but I was so lucky I guess I’m hoping that at any moment something bad can happen to this almost perfect balance in which I am. Now I am doomed to learn that anyone’s life is a story full of certainties.

After 25 years of career, Did you dream about a success as you achieved?

It’s ridiculous. I can´t believe it. And I read some notes about me or hear some descriptions people do and I think, well, I don´t know who they’re talking about because I doubt it is myself, but it is. I can´t believe that much attention that is placed on me. But yes, I am, no doubt. So I think I’m very lucky and blessed.

Now that the television series is done, What’s the plan?

I must say that right now I’m so dizzy with all the experience of making music that I think it is what I will do most of my time. The music will occupy my energy now. I find it quite exciting. So I will say goodbye to the screen for a while and I’ll be settling in the recording studio.

Will you return to your country or are you already adapted to Los Angeles?

I love London and it is where my family lives so far, although we haven`t decided yet what to do in the future. I think I will stay more time in Los Angeles, that is a place where people have a life expectancy of over five hundred years, and it bothers have to convince that it is something fail to achieve. There, everyone tries to be eternally young and beautiful, but it is a rather lonely city, especially if you don´t feel good.

Original Source:

http://diagonales.infonews.com/nota-181055-El-hombre-detras-de-House.html

Translation by:

@RedTulip_Ana

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