Hugh Laurie on the difficulty of the American accent

Hugh Laurie on the difficulty of the American accent | The Graham Norton Show - BBC

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Жыл бұрын

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The Bafta-winning chat show returns for its traditional New Year’s Eve edition. Together on Graham’s Hogmanay sofa: Oscar-winning Olivia Colman and Bafta rising star Michael Ward, co-starring in Sam Mendes’s powerful romantic drama Empire of Light; musician, writer and comedy great Hugh Laurie; actor and award-winning stand-up Romesh Ranganathan; one of the stars of 2022, footballer Leah Williamson, who captained England’s Lionesses to victory in the Euros; and the stars of Cabaret, Callum Scott Howells and Madeline Brewer, who chat and perform Willkommen and Don’t Tell Mama from the hit West End revival. Plus, end-of-year stories from the audience in Graham’s world-famous Big Red Chair.
The Graham Norton Show | Series 30 NYE | BBC
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@stricklinr Жыл бұрын

For anyone in the UK who doesn't know, most people in the US watched House for YEARS without realizing Hugh Laurie was British. His American accent is absolutely spot on.

@shirahime23 Жыл бұрын

True. I certainly had no idea back then (although I'm not American); his accent was just spot on. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was British. Phenomenal actor.

@missano3856 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I thought he was American.

@ameliesayshola8854 Жыл бұрын

I always thought his American accent sounded too nasal. I didn’t really watch House so I didn’t know he was British at first but I always thought his voice was kind of weird.

@bakeymykakey Жыл бұрын

i’m going to be honest i’m british and i was in the exact same boat until i saw this

@amandahector9074 Жыл бұрын

I saw him on House first and knew he was not American pretty early on. He pronounced Sebastian in a way that no American ever does. Other than that, and maybe the way he said "of" very early in the series, his accent is almost perfect. As far as non regional accents go.

@1swerdna Жыл бұрын

I'm American and I remember seeing Hugh Laurie and being shocked at how good his British accent was.

@DBZ-Mousa Жыл бұрын

Hahahahaha nice!

@grimmriffer Жыл бұрын

I always thought it would be hilarious to find an American fan of House and play them an episode of Jeeves and Wooster...

@Validboy Жыл бұрын

Love his Hugh Laurie character.. He really goes in deep.. I hardly noticed the limb when he walked out, now thats some classy acting right there..

@theradgegadgie6352 Жыл бұрын

@grimmriffer Or Blackadder Goes Forth. Basically the same character.

@samholdsworth420 Жыл бұрын

@@grimmriffer lol they wouldn't get it

@KristiLEvans1 Жыл бұрын

I am an American and I recall being very surprised to learn that Laurie was British. His accent was impeccable. I’m equally surprised it didn’t come naturally or easily as time went on. Flawless.

@Sir_Poohheart 7 ай бұрын

Same. For a long time the only roles I knew him from were “House” and “Stewart Little”, and he uses an American accent in both. His remarkable American accent is so unremarkable I never suspected for a moment he wasn’t actually American. Wasn’t til I saw a KZfaq clip from Fry and Laurie that I realized he’s British.

@ecotrekker8184 7 ай бұрын

I first realized he was British after I saw him on a late night talk show - my jaw dropped when I heard him speak. For the first few years of "House", I had no idea he was British.

@kaylathompson9418 5 ай бұрын

I just found out omg what a revelation

@l.t.1305 2 ай бұрын

Which American accent? There are so many

@joeblankenship377 Ай бұрын

Yeah, I thought he was American for a while. Before I looked into his other work.

@xXbaker1025Xx Жыл бұрын

The beauty of American English is even if something doesn't come out right when trying to imitate, there's always probably at least a couple people that actually talk like that.

@holger_p 3 ай бұрын

That's valid in just about any language. But if you switch dialect from word to word, it still sounds weird.

@Unpainted_Huffhines Ай бұрын

Anyone trying an American accent but getting things wrong here and there can always cover themselves by saying they're from somewhere between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

@burningrabbit7278 Жыл бұрын

Hugh Laurie being unconvinced of the calibre of his own American accent when the director thought he was American in his audition is a testament to the quality of work Hugh Laurie expects of himself.

@mattcorcoran7082 Жыл бұрын

I think he knows it’s good, but he finds it difficult to do, and maybe reduces his attention to other parts of his performance.

@izzmus Жыл бұрын

Most Americans don't sound as American as he does, to be honest. That is to say, most Americans have regional accents that probably only a local would catch on to (y'all ain't from around here, are ya?) or maybe just a very enthusiastic linguist who will catch the way that, say, my personal region beats vowels into submission until they become more of an inflected schwa... but his voice acting is to the point where one doesn't really "sense" that - you know they aren't from where YOU are but at the same time, you could just chalk that up to mannerisms and dialect over accent.

@mr.doctorcaptain1124 Жыл бұрын

Show runner, not director

@liamfionan9695 Жыл бұрын

Idk if I met a guy who sounded American but a little off I wouldn't jump to the conclusion he wasn't American

@u4riahsc Жыл бұрын

The first time I saw him on that show where he was a MD, I had no clue he was British, and then when I saw him on Graham Norton I thought, wow he does a good British accent. Turns out his American accent is good.

@ProsperVenturesInc Жыл бұрын

House always does such a good job at playing Hugh Laurie.

@mustin07doesgaming Жыл бұрын

I know right

@DMoney011 Жыл бұрын

He’s so great at it 😂

@ranaakram7800 Жыл бұрын

Yesss 😂

@MomMom4Cubs Жыл бұрын

I was so shocked to watch him sing and dance after knowing him only as House. I didn't recognize him in the "Walking On Broken Glass" video until after I learnt he's not actually American.

@saoghail9769 Жыл бұрын

The medical field doesn't pay very much. He does did a side job.

@davidwalter2002 Жыл бұрын

Not only did he nail an American accent, he nailed a New Jersey accent. I live in the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area, and he sounded like a native of the Garden State throughout the run of the show.

@tracymurray6840 Жыл бұрын

Actually, House's father was in the military and the family moved around a lot, so he doesn't have a really distinct regional accent, then again, he could have been living in New Jersey for many years, even before joining Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, some time after getting a blood clot on his leg.

@davidwalter2002 Жыл бұрын

@@tracymurray6840 I was going off of the locale of the show, as well as my own lifelong experience with native regional speakers. Certain vowels are distinctive, and Laurie captures that.

@highviewbarbell Жыл бұрын

@@davidwalter2002 you're the first person I've seen online who doesn't think of the Sopranos as the only possible NJ accent and i appreciate it. Speaking of NJ i happen to be reading this comment on my way to get a cup of cawfee and a Taylor Ham, egg and cheese on an everything bagel

@davidwalter2002 Жыл бұрын

@@highviewbarbell Salt, pepper, ketchup? Cawfee regular?

@highviewbarbell Жыл бұрын

@@davidwalter2002 just pepper, cream and two sugars

@GreenMountainVelvet Жыл бұрын

Let’s not forget how good he is at piano. This guy is crazy talented

@soaringvulture Жыл бұрын

But is his piano playing British or American? He certainly plays the blues well.

@TheEulerID Жыл бұрын

Not to mention being a considerable athlete. He was on course to be an Olympic class rower until forced to give up by contracting glandular fever. His father actually was an Olympic gold medallist in the coxless pairs.

@emporioalnino4670 Жыл бұрын

@@TheEulerID Sounds like a jab house would use at a lesbian couple

@brenthaskins1712 8 ай бұрын

So that was really him playing in Jeeves & Wooster? Neat!

@frsgffybkwrmgrl 6 ай бұрын

And has also written novels

@DCFelix67 Жыл бұрын

As an American, I must say he did the accent perfectly. Unless people knew him, most Americans would think he was one of their own.

@TrueThanny Жыл бұрын

Not perfectly, but pretty close.

@perrid13 Жыл бұрын

I was a teenager when House was airing, and I remember going on Fox's website looking for the latest episode (streaming was not common/easy to find at the time) and their player automatically played interviews with the cast, and I was floored when I heard Laurie talking in the "real" accent the first time. Like, the ground was falling out from beneath my feet lol.

@lonestar2078 Жыл бұрын

I knew him as Jasper, so I was impressed

@The_Omegaman Жыл бұрын

I didnt know he was british until season 3-4

@terra_the_nightingale135 Жыл бұрын

@@TrueThanny I think if it’s enough for many or most of that accent to believe it, then it’s there

@etherdetroit1977 Жыл бұрын

Hugh had me fooled as House. He did a phenomenal job.

@funtechu Жыл бұрын

The only time I remember it slipping through was in an episode where he said "New York" and pronounced it "Newark"

@slaegeduru9542 Жыл бұрын

He fooled us all

@somuchbs6008 Жыл бұрын

Maybe he was referring to Newark NJ? Or the airport 🫣

@theprowitzproject9403 9 ай бұрын

It’s always weird to me to hear him with a British accent since I watched him on House before I knew.

@saulspeaks2557 9 ай бұрын

He fooled the producers in his audition!

@ginon3878 2 ай бұрын

I’ve never heard a British person humbly describe the difficulty of performing an American accent. How refreshing, lol

@timgimmy609 Ай бұрын

same & I'm surprised how many Americans don't notice bad accents. Like Doctor Strange? That guy's supposed to be from NY?

@blacktimhoward4322 Ай бұрын

McNulty from The Wire

@davidward2651 Ай бұрын

@@timgimmy609 Problem is, there's a LOT of different accents across the US, as opposed to a single "American" accent (this is true in most countries, but the size of the US increases the problem). People notice if the accent they're familiar with is being done poorly, but not as much accents from other regions. Even American actors often struggle to nail accents from different regions of the country. As long as they don't fall back into caricature, I'm pretty forgiving of people attempting accents that aren't their own. It just makes me more appreciative of the ones who can truly pull it off.

@Plethorality Ай бұрын

@@davidward2651but i dont think they much listen to other accents, so they dont always notice something odd, or where it comes from.

@sarahberkner 14 күн бұрын

@@timgimmy609 the worst American accent I've heard was Michael Caine, who of course is a good actor, in a movie set in Texas. He doesn't do a Southern accent there at all, it's like his accent mixed with a 1930s New York accent. I don't agree with the consensus that British actors are so much better at doing American accents than American actors are at British accents. There are plenty of American actors that can do spot-on British accents and plenty of actors in both countries are either bad at accents in general or they didn't have a good accent coach. Also, Americans might be a little more forgiving and less pretentious about our accents.

@mikmop Жыл бұрын

As an Australian who didn't originally recognise him, I just thought it was an American actor. And then when I eventually did recognise him from Black Adder, I thought: "My god, he does such a great British accent for an American".

@KoyasuNoBara Жыл бұрын

What's really fun is that there's an episode of House where he briefly pretends to be British, and he somehow manages to sound like a American trying to fake a British accent.

@Beth1300 20 күн бұрын

@@KoyasuNoBaraI just watched a clip of that recently. The fake British accent he does is hilariously bad, it was brilliant 😂

@sarahberkner 14 күн бұрын

I think I do a good British accent (I know, there's more than one "British accent") but I've noticed most people are just bad at accents. There are a good number of American actors who can do a proper British accent.

@TonyEnglandUK Күн бұрын

@@sarahberkner Chris Pratt can do a British accent flawlessly. He does an Essex accent on the Graham Norton show and all I could think was _"Hang on, he does that accent better than me and I AM British!"_

@Agos226 Жыл бұрын

His American accent was so good that whenever I hear him speak naturally in my head he still sounds like an American doing a British accent. I assumed for several years he was American and my brain subconsciously still seems to believe that lol

@VanAnon51 Жыл бұрын

When I picture him I always hear House.

@kvetcha Жыл бұрын

There's a great bit in House where he puts on a bad British accent when trying to fool someone over the phone. So it's a Brit doing an American doing a Brit.

@plyric Жыл бұрын

Hugh Laurie's American accent was so perfect, as an American myself, I had no earthly idea he was British until Dr. House Season 7 during an interview of him! You did fantastic, Hugh!!! I ❤❤❤❤❤ Dr. House!!!!

@lieslceleste3395 Жыл бұрын

Same. In fact, I’m not entirely convinced that he’s not putting us on with the British accent.

@spectrum7virkeytroni Жыл бұрын

@@lieslceleste3395 That seems strange you would feel that way. I first saw him in his supporting roles in the Black Adder series. Then I watched Jeeves and Wooster religiously. And finally, when he started doing House, it really took some getting used to. His American accent sounded fake to me until after a half dozen episodes or so.

@silverdrillpickle7596 Жыл бұрын

I myself as well.

@rudycarlson8245 Жыл бұрын

Exactly. I had no idea he was British either!

@debraowen6723 Жыл бұрын

Yep. Same here. I never knew ..😮

@JellyLancelot 9 ай бұрын

Love how Norton just lets the guests chat and ask genuine questions to each other. Creates such a good vibe and allows a more natural side of people to shine through, Graham just steps back and only is there more as a guide. Best host there is!

@JCMilia 7 ай бұрын

Way better than what we have on the US & we have some good ones

@sakitoby1581 7 ай бұрын

He is THE BEST. Always has great guests in interesting combinations, and they always seem to have fun, as well.

@richardthompson3346 6 ай бұрын

He is a very good interviewer and a master at getting his guests to genuinely engage in conversation. He has the ability to make them feel comfortable.

@SilverFlame819 2 ай бұрын

His American accent was FLAWLESS. I'm still baffled that he's not American. You can hear it with most other actors, but I was floored when I found out he was a Brit. He did an amazing job!

@ThomasGabrielsen Жыл бұрын

As most perfectionist Hugh Laurie will most likely never be fully pleased with his own work. There will almost always be something he feels that he could've done better, which I'm sure has helped him become such a great actor. A good man, and a great actor.

@josefschiltz2192 Жыл бұрын

I recall him saying to Craig Ferguson that about ten years would pass before he could finally accept his work as being okay.

@charlottewhite1277 Жыл бұрын

I love Hugh Laurie ❤️

@McLeod2022 Жыл бұрын

wasn't his father was a physician and would've found his behavior deplorable? He was FANTASTIC in this role.

@cynicalsayonara7169 Жыл бұрын

He pronounced gigantic medical diagnosis terms flawlessly. Impressive.

@mranster Жыл бұрын

He is one of the vanishingly few English actors who can do an American accent perfectly. He absolutely nailed it. I've watched House MD several times through, and never noticed one moment where he wasn't perfectly convincing, and not just his accent, but everything about the character. Brilliant actor.

@allendracabal0819 Жыл бұрын

The real situation is the exact opposite. There are hundreds of young British actors who can perform with a flawless American accent. You've probably watched films with many of them and just assumed they were Americans.

@Jaggededge112 Жыл бұрын

I noticed a couple of times but it wasn’t horrible. Look at the season 1 episode 2 when he says “The kid will be graduating in a wheelchair and diapers” the diapers had a British accent. Overall though yes he did a phenomenal job of making the American accent.

@christajennings3828 Жыл бұрын

@@allendracabal0819 I was astonished that Christian Bales is a Brit.

@amandahector9074 Жыл бұрын

@@allendracabal0819 I almost always know when someone is putting on an American accent. With the exception of Freddy Highmore (if I hadn't seen the awful remake of Willy Wonka).

@gabsnandes7818 10 ай бұрын

@@allendracabal0819I was shocked when I found out Tom Holland was British lmao

@traceyaz125 2 ай бұрын

Hugh Laurie’s American accent is impeccable. Tom Holland does a great job as well.

@AP-gb3eb 29 күн бұрын

Tom Holland's not American? 💀

@guilhermejrmarin Жыл бұрын

Hugh did THE BEST american accent ever from a British actor.

@Valientlink Жыл бұрын

Hey let's give Chase some credit: "I play video games, I wish bro" lmao

@AlexanderNash Жыл бұрын

@@Valientlink Lmao

@nuntana2 Ай бұрын

Claire in The Good Doctor, Cavill, and Carey Mulligan also do American well.

@PleaseAlex07 Жыл бұрын

This is like, the third time Hugh Laurie & Olivia Colman have been booked on the couch on the same episode. I really hope they keep this going because they play off each other really well!

@dielaughing73 Жыл бұрын

She's not keen though

@CKC298 Жыл бұрын

They are so amazing individually and together… together it’s like watching magic but real!

@jimmysmith8663 10 ай бұрын

Not only did he have to switch his accent but house has a very witty specific sense of humor and he delivered his jokes perfectly, also he had to pronounce all those big medical terms. ...I miss that show, it was my favorite

@ddburrows988 Жыл бұрын

One of the most delightful things to do - for avid fans of House who've not seen Laurie's prior characters, - is to play them a little bit of Bertie Wooster (especially when he's at the piano). Their reactions are priceless.

@mals86 Жыл бұрын

LOVED Jeeves and Wooster.

@surrealfarm 7 ай бұрын

As much as I love House, Jeeves and Wooster is my favorite vehicle of Hugh's. He was hilarious and brilliant at it, He nailed Wodehouse.

@pineapplegamer6986 Жыл бұрын

Not only is his American accent really good it’s the fact that his real accent is so British that’s amazing he can switch it so well

@cerdic6305 Жыл бұрын

What do you mean by 'so British'? He just is British and speaks with a fairly normal, posh English accent

@DeeEllEff Жыл бұрын

@@cerdic6305 I think he means he sounds like he graduated Eton, and then from Cambridge, which he did. And as you said: that’s properly “posh.”

@cerdic6305 Жыл бұрын

@@DeeEllEff ok but that doesn’t make him sound more British than a cockney or a scouser, they all sound equally British

@skilletborne Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure what you mean. He's got an accent with very clear annunciation and isn't too dissimilar to American already. If he had a more impenetrable accent like scouse, brummie or cockney I'd understand that "so British" comment, but no. He's just what people who've never been to Britain, barring uptown London, mean when they say British accents are sexy. We really aren't.

@jameskoester1834 Жыл бұрын

@@cerdic6305 you sound so british

@jasonmistretta4295 Жыл бұрын

I thought Hugh Laurie's American accent on House, MD was spectacular!

@citizen320 2 ай бұрын

I literally found out today that he's not American. I'd say he nailed the accent.

@humblegamertube 2 ай бұрын

As a Brit, one of my favourite House moments was when he told Chase "you put the Queen on your money - youre British". Genuinely brilliant line.

@annwilliams7000 Жыл бұрын

I always thought it would have been so fabulous to have Stephen Fry do a guest appearance on House as a professor from Princeton with some fabulously exotic illness and have his posh English imperiousness get right up House’s nose. Imelda Staunton or Emma Thompson could have had a cameo as Fry’s wife or secretary or something.

@Jay41 Жыл бұрын

OMG that would’ve been great!

@AlanCanon2222 Жыл бұрын

Some medical miracle happens, and Fry transforms into Sandi Toksvig....

@thomaswilliams2273 Жыл бұрын

I've heard they wanted to, with Fry being even smarter than House but they couldn't mesh the schedules.😊

@soulcornflake1 Жыл бұрын

I've heard Stephen Fry's American accent too and he was pretty good at it too.

@kethf4301 Жыл бұрын

That really should have happened, Fry & Laurie are fantastic together

@gingerpierce9178 Жыл бұрын

I first saw Hugh Laurie in shows like A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Black Adder, so I knew full well he was British. Seeing him in anything where he performs with an American accent is a revelation. His American accent is amazingly good!

@SweetSirenia 8 ай бұрын

Hugh Laurie and Matthew Rhys are the two who will forever blow me away with how perfect their American accents are. Just unbelievably good. They never slip!

@jeffreycole2816 2 ай бұрын

Simon Baker as Patrick Jane on The Mentalist...amazing American accent...

@buddybeetle 2 ай бұрын

Agreed. Matthew Rhys especially. What a fine actor. Exceptional.

@MikeLikesChannel 2 ай бұрын

His American accent is perfect. You would *never* know

@upturnedblousecollar5811 Күн бұрын

For the reverse, listen to Chris Pratt doing a British accent, he does it perfectly on the Graham Norton show.

@ar_t_lo Жыл бұрын

I love how like everyone just starts asking questions to him as if it some weird 3 people interviewing 1 person type of thing

@RobinHartJones Жыл бұрын

Apart from Americans not realising Laurie was British, you also have Kevin McKidd in Greys Anatomy (Dr Hunt) who they did not remember seeing speaking his natural accent in 'Trainspotting' and Damien Lewis who they watched in 'Band Of Brothers' playing Major Winters and the lead role of Nicholas Brodie in 'Homecoming'. To be fair, a lot of British did not realise Gwyneth Paltrow was American when she starred in 'Sliding Doors' and Rene Zellwegger did a good job in the Bridget Jones films. It may not have been an accent very many British people use but it does exist and she nailed it. I will skip over Gillian Andersons fantastic British accent as she grew up here.

@marchapril5783 Жыл бұрын

I'm reminded of a great story by Bernard Hill and his time working with Brad Dourif on the Lord of the Rings films. Brad stayed in character his entire time on set, and it was only at the premier that Bernard heard Brad speaking in his normal West Virginia accent. Bernard was confused as to why Brad was speaking in that "funny American accent", he had just assumed Brad was English and was shocked to discover he was actually American.

@Fred_08 Жыл бұрын

Homeland* Don't forget also Andrew Lincoln in The walking dead whose accent is simply phenomenal

@eikonise Жыл бұрын

@Guy Incognito yeah it was pretty forced/strained; it was the only way Andrew Lincoln could sound kinda american--he said as much himself in an interview, i think.

@KayAteChef Жыл бұрын

Dominic West for me... I knew him from The Wire with a Baltimore accent and then I spun out when I saw him on The Crown. Did a quick Google from there.

@peterang6912 Жыл бұрын

Sorry to say this but they know about Rene, there was a whole thing about the fact that a American woman was playing Bridget Jones...Same with Angelina was playing Lara Croft..

@ruthanderson1758 2 ай бұрын

I didn't know for a really long time that he is British. I never once questioned his accent. Amazes me how he could do that, especially with such complex dialog.

@Kristen242008 Жыл бұрын

I'm American. For the first couple seasons of House, I had no idea that Hugh was British. It wasn't until I looked him up, that I found out where he was from. His American accent was really good.

@my-king Жыл бұрын

Growing up with Hugh in the 90s I always knew he was British, but now I find it odd hearing him with a British accent because I loved House so much.

@noahbawdy3395 Жыл бұрын

His American accent was so good that although I recognized from somewhere, I couldn't place him until the second episode and payed attention to the credits. Holy crap ! Hugh Laurie ? From A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Blackadder ? Wow ! I was amazed.

@carnivorehippie8071 Жыл бұрын

Hugh's American pronunciation was PERFECT. Faultless. He only gave himself away twice that I can recall, and those were turns of phrase, not accent. Once was when he said "round" where an American would've said "around" and once he said "pay a call", whereas an American would have said "pay a visit". Most of my friends who watched House had NO IDEA Hugh is British. (I knew cuz I had seen Jeeves & Wooster, BlackAdder, and A Bit of Fry & Laurie)

@caroltee2242 8 ай бұрын

I was flabbergasted when I found out Hugh Laurie was English! Incredible! He played a curmudgeonly American doctor so incredibly well! I don't know how people can do that with their voice.

@ianfurqueron5850 Жыл бұрын

I knew Hugh Laurie was British from seeing him in Black Adder. My favorite House scene was when he was talking on the phone to someone and needed to disguise his voice so he went back to his Black Adder Prince Regent character voice. My ex- (who also knew him from Black Adder) and I were howling with laughter.

@Mikebumpful Жыл бұрын

His Blackadder characters speak in such an over the top manner that you could be forgiven for believing his House voice was his normal voice!

@allencarlson6128 Жыл бұрын

...this coming from a man who arguably does one of finest American accents out there.

@PatrycjaDrewno1 2 ай бұрын

I remember I use to think his American accent was real. When I heard him years ago sounding British I was blown away. He nailed the American accent I thought.

@VanAnon51 Жыл бұрын

I truly thought Hugh (Jackman and Laurie) were American because both of their American accents were flawless. I was shocked to learn neither are. Brilliant talent.

@nicolewise Жыл бұрын

Laurie as House was a perfect American accent. I fancy myself a keen imposter catcher. But he got me.

@TheKrazysexykool Жыл бұрын

I loved "House". He was sarcasm in corporeal form

@lindasilva6821 23 күн бұрын

He did such a great job..I didn't know he was English until much later. Wonderful actor and great character.

@saroshkhan1579 Жыл бұрын

Not only did he have a great American accent, his delivery of jokes and expressions were very American, if that makes any sense. I wish they would do a 2 hour follow up movie type thing on House (similar to Breaking Bad/El Camino). It would be so interesting to see him perform medical miracles under a different identity!

@billyeveryteen7328 Жыл бұрын

Hugh obviously has the insecurity of an actor, compounded with the insecurity of being a stranger in a foreign land, but his American accent is so good that many Americans don't even know he's British.

@theylied1776 Жыл бұрын

The Brit with the most convincing American sounding accent is Idris Elba. The majority of American believed that he was an American. I had no idea he was British until I saw him in a couple of interviews.

@areebakhtar5059 Жыл бұрын

How bout mcnulty

@_samuelajayi Жыл бұрын

@@dutchman8129 for real?

@DneilB007 Жыл бұрын

Edited to correct the spelling of “Jonson.” I typed it with the “h” and then thought that doesn’t look right.

@mackdog3270 Жыл бұрын

LoL have you asked the majority of Americans their opinion?

@j.s.1816 Жыл бұрын

Same! I watched him in House. Would never have guessed he wasn't American.

@jrjubach Жыл бұрын

It's easy to forget about Hugh Laurie's comedy chops (he's a legend in the comedy world) after we all saw him in such a serious role for so long as House.

@sunnyday_lemonbars Жыл бұрын

loved a bit of Frye and Laurie!

@ZakhadWOW Жыл бұрын

looking back on him in Blackadder series, and contrasting it with HOUSE gives you a mindblowing range.

@jimfaust6342 Жыл бұрын

@@ZakhadWOW Rowan Atkinson ( Mr Bean) was also in Black Adder something few Americans know

@csong9940 Жыл бұрын

His American accent is FLAWLESS

@alpenglow4243 Жыл бұрын

He was spot-on with his American accent on House.

@PhoenixFeathers Жыл бұрын

So he found out what it feels like to be speaking a second language - only it’s still English 😂

@jennyjean1978 2 ай бұрын

Hugh Laurie is a gem!

@SalemEverett Жыл бұрын

I watched all 8 seasons of House believing that Hugh Laurie was American; one of the sharpest accent-switch performances from any actor in my humble opinion!

@peacockfeathers7409 Жыл бұрын

i love him. a bit of fry & laurie is the best!!

@Nobody-bq7pl Жыл бұрын

House playing a Brit is legendary

@RockySamson Жыл бұрын

And you would never know. Hugh Laurie is such a pro.

@mcrut111 Жыл бұрын

I watched House at a young age not really knowing who Hugh was or if he had an accent, and when I found out I was floored, watched the series multiple times and never even caught a glimpse of him slipping up. Truly great.

@ruthdepew7212 Жыл бұрын

I am a 74 year old heartland American, but when I go to the UK, after about 12 hours or so, I have trouble speaking with an American accent because my voice (not me) wants to talk like everyone around me. I have the same problem in America. It takes me about three hours to speak in the correct regional Southern accent, but about 3 days to start talking like a New Englander.

@josefschiltz2192 Жыл бұрын

Any musicians in your family? Just as a thought.

@minaus5082 Жыл бұрын

I’m not a native English speaker and yet I feel like my accent changes depending on the person I am talking to and their accent.

@josefschiltz2192 Жыл бұрын

@@minaus5082 My intonation tends to blend with the person I am speaking to if the manner of it is close to my own. Like I am 'cutting and pasting' a style overlay upon my own. I can do a number of accents because of a musical ear - whether that is something to do with my father being both a musician, and a polyglot, is uncertain. As per my preceding comment, it's interesting to find out if musicianship has anything to do with this or just a particular affection for music or that plus an analytical mind.

@larkan511 Жыл бұрын

You're a sheep, have your own voice and quit trying to conform

@josefschiltz2192 Жыл бұрын

@@larkan511 It's called empathetic reciprocation. A type of mimesis that shows both kindness, co-evolutionary respect and a certain degree of humility and a want to communicate and not set up difference intensifying barriers and to not be arrogant. My father went a stage further and was a polyglot. Your own comment shows a partisan abrasiveness and an unwillingness either to understand and meet people halfway or on even terms.

@MegaBrownie19 Жыл бұрын

I had no idea he wasn’t American until years later that’s how good his American accent was in House.

@MarieAntoinetteandherlittlesis Жыл бұрын

Hugh Laurie is absolutely top notch. House will always and forever be one of my top favorite actors in a TV series.

@JustGettinBy1321 2 ай бұрын

Loved him on House so much! Such a complex character.

@Freedom2828 Жыл бұрын

House character is amazing, look even after all these years, house steals the limelight

@gerarddelmonte8776 Жыл бұрын

A superb actor, period. And yes, his House accent wad spot on, and the delivery of it delicious.

@readysetjoe5804 8 ай бұрын

The second time I saw Hugh Laurie was in House. The first time I saw him act was in Stuart Little as the dad. The third time was in A Bit of Fry and Laurie and it blew me out of the water.

@mohammedelqahtani3843 11 күн бұрын

one of the most underrated actors of all time

@JBM425 Жыл бұрын

It was a great mental disconnect hearing Hugh Laurie doing an American accent in “House” and “Stuart Little” after seeing him in “Jeeves & Wooster” and “Blackadder” in his native British accent. The fact that his acerbic Dr. House character was a stark change from his good-natured Bertie Wooster was an even greater shock.

@Sagitarria Жыл бұрын

He does a pretty amazing job. One place I noticed that he couldn’t do an American accent was the few times that house did an impression of a game show host. He did the British impression of an American game show host rather than an American impression of a game show host.

@josefschiltz2192 Жыл бұрын

In our generation, the most recognizable game show host was Hughie Green.

@Sagitarria Жыл бұрын

@@josefschiltz2192 it's this american game show host thing that I've seen a lot of brits do- even int he HItchhikers guide.

@josefschiltz2192 Жыл бұрын

@@Sagitarria Ah. Max Quordlepleen - played by Colin Jeavons - the host at The Restaurant at the End of the Universe? Over the top on everything!

@Sagitarria Жыл бұрын

@@josefschiltz2192 I think maybe

@josefschiltz2192 Жыл бұрын

@@Sagitarria Overdone make-up, a rictus 'smile' and boundary contentious enthusiasm. Spike Milligan used to do those as well.

@DanielleBaylor Жыл бұрын

I seriously thought he was American for the longest time. Great acting

@ilarionispas5104 2 ай бұрын

it hurts to see him getting old, but life is life

@laleighpop Жыл бұрын

Love him! It's odd listening to him talk in his normal accent!

@mongjedi244 Жыл бұрын

I'll never forget hearing the Get Happy song in House, and he couldn't hide his accent. I laughed and said, "Hugh can't hide his British accent while singing." My wife looked at me like an alien. She had no idea bc his American accent was so good

@ariesviolent 2 ай бұрын

Laurie released a couple amazing blues albums. More people need to look into that.

@stoffer108 Жыл бұрын

Love the fact that the other guests also ask questions. They are all curious

@RickReasonnz Жыл бұрын

That's why Norton's is the best talk show. It's not an interview, it's a conversation between a bunch of guests.

@Mister006 Жыл бұрын

Hugh Laurie's American accent in House was a better American accent than most Americans who speak from areas (mid-atlantic) that would have that accent. He slipped so rarely, and for only one word, it was perfection!

@gamingnerdgirlz Жыл бұрын

House was epic and still IS.His American accent is great.

@Trackerstatus 27 күн бұрын

Watching a few episodes when it came out, was totally shocked to learn that it wasn't his real accent. Dude sounded like a typical dude you grew up with, very natural, and House's biting sarcasm really sold it.

@alexandermeisling6303 Жыл бұрын

He’s being humble. There were several years of my life where I had no idea he was English because his accent in House was so convincing

@karenkasulke2294 Жыл бұрын

As difficult as he found it, he made it look incredibly easy.

@christhornycroft3686 Жыл бұрын

I grew up with British TV in Canada, so I knew who Hugh Laurie was. British people can usually do American accents well, but Americans are hit and Miss. Sometimes you get chimneysweeps in Julie Andrews movies.

@mildredhighcock7333 Жыл бұрын

Oddly having listened to various cockneys over the years I think Mr Dick Van Dyke's accent was far closer than people realise

@ClarinoI Жыл бұрын

As a child growing up in the north of England I genuinely believed Dick Van Dike's accent was native Cockney. I didn't learn how bad it was until years later.

@thegoodgeneral 6 ай бұрын

His perfectionism is what makes his accent so believable.

@missimin 8 ай бұрын

His American accent was spot on. He's one of the few who never slipped up.

@RoyGBiv-lc8tv Жыл бұрын

His American accent is one of the best. I honestly don’t think it could be improved on.

@conorobrien5763 Жыл бұрын

House is a great show. An actors ability to change accents is so fascinating.

@orangutan-halibut-walrus Ай бұрын

he's just such a humble genius

@kelsiejo2021 Ай бұрын

This is the first ever interview clip I’ve seen of him and had NO IDEA he was faking an American accent! My mind is blown!

@masonknapp4166 Жыл бұрын

Considering I've only ever seen him im clips from house and until now assumed he was American, i can confirm his American accent is top notch

@neilkurzman4907 Жыл бұрын

He may not think so, but he did a really good American accent. East Coast of course.

@ReMessy Жыл бұрын

One of the best American accents I’ve ever heard. Dude is spot on

@aether_gasm 7 ай бұрын

When I saw him in House, my brain was imploding as he spoke, because I remembered watching him on Blackadder as a kid. 🤣He's so convincing with that American accent though!

@gregorysagegreene Жыл бұрын

Having lived as an Australian in America for almost 25 years, my impression of 'House' is that Laurie first adds a certain dialectical tone to the voice, and then it follows that the vowels are more easily framed within that. I've done that, when I just wanted to walk through a new conversation quickly with an American stranger, such as a store clerk. Essentially, us outsiders put on the persona of an darker alternate voice to be more easily heard. Corse if I relax and talk Ozzie mate, which I do a lot now cause I just don't care anymore, one gets the incessant query to repeat what I just said.

@TimothyOBrien1958 Жыл бұрын

I have been doing accents since I was very young. My maternal grandmother was from Ireland and I sounded like her. Then I realized that even my family sounded less like her than I. I then adopted an English accent. Then I picked up a German one from an exchange student. It went on from there. I've done plays and commercials where I was in an accent. I never dropped it between takes, scenes, and shows. I would do the accent all the time just to stay authentic. I think it's also better to live in the accent for a while before doing a show.

@sakitoby1581 7 ай бұрын

That's cool. Of course the joke is that any American doing Irish comes out sounding like a Lucky Charms commercial! Hopefully you don't make that mistatke! LOL Or someone out of Brigadoon.🤣🤣 But we fans of accents know that real Irish isn't anything like those... Btw a guy on SNL last week did a spot-on impression of filmmaker Werner Herzog, and just nailed his (what I think is rather odd and unique sounding) German accent. It was hilarious.

@TimothyOBrien1958 6 ай бұрын

@@sakitoby1581 There is no one Irish accent. I’ve had irish friends make fun of Brad Pitt in Devils Own, but the destroy his friend. Ironically, the actor is from Carlow. He speaks fluent Irish. He’s Saoirse Ronan’s father. I’m sorry, except for the most egregious renditions, even those living in the State get it wrong at times.

@whiskeywarmseptember Ай бұрын

As a non native English speaker, it's very easy for me to accept the British and American versions of Hugh, both have lived rent free in my head for years harmoniously 😊

@nateplace415 Жыл бұрын

I only really learned how hard it is to truly replicate accents when I came to Australia for a semester. It's one thing to do the "I'm trying to be funny for like 10 seconds," it's another to literally pull it off to a point people legitimately think you're a different nationality.

@TheQwuilleran Жыл бұрын

Thank goodness for the creation of the- whatever the Mid Atlantic accent is... 😅 Growing up, watching House and Stuart Little, I had no reason to believe he wasn't American. I don't think I found out he was British until like, season 5??

@noelbautista2537 Жыл бұрын

I tried so hard but I just cant make my brain to think that House and Hugh Laurie are the same person.

@phillipzx3754 Ай бұрын

The first time I heard Hugh Laurie speak outside of being an actor on "House," I thought he was trying out a new accent. I had no clue he wasn't American. Loved the show.