everybodyliesmd | (no subject)

I love this man.

Hugh Laurie regrets opening up about his battle with depression -- because he hates reading about celebrities who think life is tough.

The House star recently revealed he was once so low and that he sought treatment in the mid-1990s -- and immediately regretted being so candid.

He tells Parade magazine, "I wish I'd kept my mouth shut about that... Now an undue weight has been given to this aspect of my life.

"I don't like to be thought of as this guy who has nothing else to talk about except how miserable my lot was.

"I remember watching Mel Gibson on some show once, and he was being asked about his belief in the afterlife. Gibson said, 'Well, I can't believe this is all there is.' And I thought, 'Wait a minute. You're Mel Gibson. You have millions of dollars. You're a great-looking chap with every conceivable blessing that could be bestowed upon a man. And that's not good enough?'

"So you can see why I'm hesitant to talk about any trivial pain I have. I find myself going, 'Oh, for God's sake, Hugh. Pull yourself together.'"

But Laurie, who plays miserable doctor Gregory House on the hit series, doesn't want to suggest that depression is something to hide or take lightly.

He adds, "I do know depression is a disease... It is the last great taboo -- something people still don't want to talk about."

I wish a lot of celebrities were as humble as Hugh.

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Have you ever seen the great Stephen Fry's documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive? It shows why the two have been best of friends for such a long time. Intelligent, humble, kind, understanding, inquisitive.
Fry is open about his cyclothymic disorder and I think Laurie did the right thing being open about his bouts of depression. It helps to lift 'the last great taboo'.

I actually missed it last time it was on; I only caught the last couple of minutes. I'm going to TiVo Stephen Fry so I don't miss it next time it's on.

I totally agree that Hugh did the right thing by talking about it. It needs to be talked about and I think hearing it from someone like Hugh brings it positive attention. He's not a whiny celebrity who has everything and feels they are entitled to more. He's famous, but he's genuine and down to earth and believable. I do agree with him, though, in that it figures into a lot more conversations with him than perhaps it should.

I just love how humble he is and how truly grateful he is for what he's got.

The fact that it figures in far more conversations with him than it should is due to crappy talk show hosts, interviewers and their research teams. All they ever talk about is his accent, his family living in London and his father being a doctor. The ones that have had some research done will ask about his musical talents, his rowing career and... his depressions. It's soundbites they're interested in. Facts that'll stick with an audience. It'll probably come with the FOX contract to do promotional work in 8 minutes slots with Conan, Letterman and the likes but the man and his many talents displayed besides and before House deserve better than this superficial rehashing of a stereotype.
Sorry for messing up your LJ. I'll stop ranting now.

You aren't messing up my LJ! Not at all! I'm enjoying talking to you.

You are right about the soundbites. I'd love to see them mention his extraordinarily successful career in England before House and his musical talents. There is so much more to the man that is never addressed.

god, I love him.