Olivia Wilde heaps praise on 'dreamboat' co-star Hugh Laurie
Los Angeles, June 30
Hollywood actress-director Olivia Wilde has lauded actor Hugh Laurie calling him the "dreamiest dreamboat". The 42-year-old actress-director starred alongside Hugh in the hit television show 'House' between 2006 and 2012.
The actress still has fond memories of working with the British actor, reports 'Female First UK'.
Asked by Armchair Expert podcast host Dax Shepherd whether she was smitten with her co-star, Olivia said, "He is so smitten-worthy. No, he's so smart. I loved him on Jeeves and Wooster, and he had done all sorts of interesting comedy in the English comedy theatre world that I was obsessed with. Meeting him, I mean, the dreamiest dreamboat. And so gracious, and had all these kids around him, really, that he was so sweet and encouraging (toward)".
Olivia and Hugh spent "a lot of time together" on set, and the actress relished the experience. She recalled, "We did, like, 19-hour days. I think the show went eight years. I did, I think, four years".
As per 'Female First UK', Olivia's House bosses ultimately allowed her to juggle the TV show with her film career, and she remains grateful for being afforded so much freedom.
The actress, who played Remy 'Thirteen' Hadley on the TV medical drama, said, "I started doing movies in the off-season. I had a deal with them where I would get paid less, but it meant I could go do movies. It was really nice of them to let me do that. But I knew I couldn't stay. And it was because the hours were, I mean, poor Hugh".
Meanwhile, Olivia previously admitted that she finds directing to be a liberating experience. The actress made her directorial debut with the teen comedy film Booksmart in 2019, and Olivia explained that she relished the experience.
She told The Talks, "Directing has been liberating in a way that is very profound because as an actor, you are very dependent. You're dependent on people choosing you and people projecting a certain kind of definition onto you of a character of what you are. I think it's quite an enormous responsibility to hold all of those projections".
"With being director, there's a sense of agency. I think the first time that I called action on my own set of my first film, I felt a thrill of independence for the first time. My value on a set was entirely based on my ideas and if I had an instinct to change a scene, I could do that", she added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I never knew Olivia directed Booksmart! That film was quite refreshing. But I must say, as an Indian viewer, I find it amusing how Hollywood actors talk about 'long hours' when our film industry folks regularly do 20-hour shifts. Still, nice to hear positive vibes between co-stars instead of the usual drama. 💪
Olivia Wilde is such a class act! That bit about her negotiating a lower salary to pursue film while still being on House - chalo, at least she was honest about it. Many actors would just complain. And her passion for directing? Truly inspiring for all the women out there dreaming of making films. 👏
Show was over a decade ago and she still speaks so warmly of Hugh Laurie. These days, actors move on so quickly - it's refreshing to see genuine friendships from set. Makes me want to re-watch House, season 1 to 8! Hugh Laurie's British humour combined with Olivia's charm was top-notch. 📺
I have to say, while I admire Olivia's career moves, I find the whole 'dreamboat' narrative a bit over the top. She's a talented director, but can't we just appreciate her work without the celebrity gossip angle? The real takeaway is how she managed to balance TV and film - that's the practical lesson for aspiring artists. 🎬
'House' was peak television, man! The chemistry between Hugh and Olivia was unreal. But I'm more excited about her directing career - 'Booksmart' was brilliant, and I hope
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