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The latest face of L’oreal’s men’s skincare line, L’Oreal Paris Men Expert, is scruffy grumpy Hugh Laurie of House. Hugh will represent the line overseas, like Gerard Butler and Patrick Dempsey before him. Now, I can see Dempsey and maybe Butler representing men’s skincare, but this just seems beneath Laurie. I’m trying to separate him from his character on House, for whom this role as spokesperson would be laughable. From what I know of British Laurie he’s quite down-to-earth and not at all Hollywood. But I guess that makes him the perfect score for a skincare line. Here’s more, from The Daily Mail:
And today Hugh Laurie is cast in an unlikely new role, as the male face for L’Oreal Paris Men Expert products.
He joins fellow Hollywood stars Gerard Butler and Patrick Dempsey, who are already ambassadors for L’Oreal Paris.
Hugh said: ‘At first I thought it was a mistake, but then I realised that
L’Oreal wasn’t looking for models but for people with strong personalities, who are worth it…and who aren’t afraid to proclaim that using cosmetics can be a very masculine decision after all.’
The men’s grooming business has grown significantly over the past two years, with British men now spending more on skincare than ever before.
And Laurie could be the ideal model to attract men who fear their masculinity will be threatened by using cosmetics.
Laurie has won critical and popular acclaim for his portrayal of the curmudgeonly but brilliant Dr Gregory House in the hugely popular U.S. medical drama House.
But after eight series it seems he may be ready to leave the Vicodin-addicted misanthropic character behind and try something new.
He told the Radio Times: ‘The end of [the eighth] season, right now, looks like the end of the show. That is as far as they have got me for.’
The 51-year-old is estimated to be paid around £250,000 [$400,000 USD] an episode – now making him the best paid actor on television.
[From The Daily Mail]
There’s also this video of Hugh in which he kind of makes fun of his new gig. I just love hearing him speak in his regular accent. I still find Hugh as a skincare spokeman puzzling but the guy might feel more secure with a few more million in the bank now that House is possibly winding down. That’s probably the motivating factor behind this. He used to talk about how he was afraid he would lose his gig on House, and now that it’s possibly looming after the next and eighth season it could have convinced him that this wasn’t a bad idea.
Hugh Laurie is shown on 5/3/11 and 5/7/11. Credit: WENN.com
Written by Celebitchy
Posted in Advertising, Hugh Laurie
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“… and who aren’t afraid to proclaim that using cosmetics…”
Judging from the non photoshopped pictures he doesn’t use any cosmetic product.
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Puzzling, this one. I agree that representing men’s skincare is TOTALLY beneath multi-talented Hugh Laurie, and I don’t think for a sec that he actually needs the money, as he made MILLIONS with House. So why did he do it? Actually, I believe him- he was just flattered to be asked and saw it as a nice opportunity to make fun of glossy men’s skincare ads, like he does in this commercial (‘That’s an interesting question- am I worth it? I hope I am.’ LOL)
I don’t know, maybe I love Laurie too much, for me he can do no wrong.
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Hugh is so droll, and that makes me drool! I like ‘em skinny, scruffy, and playful….the accent doesn’t hurt either.
What were we talking about? Right, is he a good fit for men’s skin care? I’d say yes if Loreal was showing him as the example of what your skin looks like without beauty products.
Hughie looks like he’s a lifetime smoker (he is), a lifetime drinker (he is), and has never applied a drop of even a sunscreen product (he probably hasn’t).
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Are they trying to sell some skin-withering line for guys who think they look too young?
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Frankly, no spokesman or woman, to me is believable. Usually, but not in this case, they are photoshopped to hell.
I suppose the company’s idea is that this is a relatable, likable man, who most men might be able to I.D with, instead of some young, photoshopped kid, like a Zac Ephron or Bieber type.
Anyway, good for them, picking a non-pretty boy for their campaign.
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I am sooo confused by this choice.
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i just love him!so perfect,funny,smart and what a great actor he is!jeeesss what i would do to hin LOL
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FUNNY guy!
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Is there anyone left in Hollywood who isn’t a spokesperson for L’Oreal?
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Looking at the third picture, I’m more confused by the fact that, apparently, his penis needs a microphone.
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I actually kind of like it. Don’t know if he will appeal to men (the demographic) to buy their products but I do like that they got somone who is older and isn’t another generic pretty boy with no talent, no skills or no brain function outside of what he is ordering at Starbucks.
The man did the Stuart Little films – he did those films for the paycheck. Why not this? A couple of days work, big chunk of cash in his bank account. And it gets him some attention outside of the House role. As the show is ending soon, he probably wants to do some different things to try and break the typecast of House. Because getting work after playing that role for so long may not be easy.
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I love Hugh, whatever he chooses to do… Very talented
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Not a thing wrong with the Stuart Little films.
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In my book Laurie can do no wrong.
Never watched an episode of House, btw.
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I hate the choice: he seems obnoxious to me, looks much older than he really is, and I doubt he takes any care of his skin, or his looks. Even my father, a smoker of 71 who moisturizes, looks far better than Hugh Laurie!
There are so many other “real men” that aren´t specially gorgeous that could have been chosen. I bet L´Oréal Men´s sales will drop downhill!
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Oh, here’s a thought!
Do you think these adds are supposed to appeal to men? Or to the ladies who often buy the products for their boyfriends/husbands/partners?
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D’ya think maybe he’ll end up with Ellen? Oh wait, that’s CoverGirl and she’s gay, forget that lol.
Edit—
other comments posted that I did not see and Karin has me laughing, really, your 71 yo smoker father is hotter than Hugh Laurie? I believe you, but I guess you should tell your dad, bc that’s a compliment!
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I’m really loosing my patience with people who are all “even my whoever who is 100 year old looks better!” Well, we all happy for you and your whoever but normal people do age as they get older, not everyone goes plastic or is lucky with genes. It seems anyone who doesn’t look 25 no matter their real age is bashed as old and haggard nowadays.
HL looks his 50+, not particulary youthfull, sure, but not worse than one would expect.
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From years and years of watching Blackadder, he will forever be Prince George. Hahahaha.
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I’d buy them. I’d buy anything Hugh was selling.
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HAHAHAHA. This is awesome. I’m glad they’re taking an amusing approach to it rather than trying to convince us that Hugh Laurie (whom I adore as House) is going to be primping all the time. That bit about being Gerard Butler before the make-up is applied is freaking AWEsome.
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I’ve been using the Clarins-Men skin care line for seven years now, and love it. Many, many straight guys use male skin care products, but there’s still a stigma attached to that, which, in 2011, is pretty ridiculous. Many guys won’t admit to using the stuff, so the companies feel they have to get these macho dudes to promote it – pretty insulting to the intelligence, in my opinion.
Hugh Laurie was obviously selected by L’oreal to target both the straight, macho male AND their wives and/or girlfriends (who will buy the line for their mates) but his skin looks pretty sketchy to me, and the make-up and photoshopping of his face doesn’t fool me. Truth is, many guys couldn’t give a Jack’s ass who is promoting the stuff – they just buy what they buy (same goes for gay guys, too).
I wish a skin care line would have the integrity and the balls to promote a good, healthy diet (no white sugar, aspartame, starch, bad carbs, etc.) plus no suntanning in CONJUNCTION with their ads. It doesn’t matter what you’re slathering on your skin if your fueling your body with toxic poisons – sooner or later they will manifest on your skin’s surface.
Ladies, tell your guys to try Clarins-Men; I find it to be the very best, and I’m a fussy skin care kind of guy!
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I like Hugh a lot, though I think it’s an odd but interesting choice. Interesting to see them look beyond just the typical model choices – now lets see them do that for women, and then I’ll be really impressed. (I know that probably won’t ever happen.)
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Seriously? If I wanted to look like Hugh Laurie, I wouldn’t have bothered to do anything for my skin. He didn’t.
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LOVE him, like I love Mandy Patinkin, same kind of guy.
Don’t believe either of them care a whit about skin care, nor does any man really, but these companies can dare to dream.
A little soap in the shower, good to go!
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Doesn’t seem to fit with his style. He’s rather unkempt. However, I find him very attractive.
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Can’t help but love this guy!
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“…people with strong personalities, who are worth it…and who aren’t afraid to proclaim that using cosmetics can be a very masculine decision after all.’
I’m SOLD!
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Oh man I love Hugh Laurie when he’s being funny. Here’s hoping he does some more comedy after House is finished. (Blackadder reunion??? *crosses fingers*)
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Love Hugh, but love him quirky. I’ve seen many of his film roles and I loved “A Bit of Fry and Laurie”.
Rolling out a men’s cosmetics line is NOT quirky. Feels like a sell out to me.
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L’Oreal has obviously done research to find out they need an older man to sell their products to older men. Dempsey & Butler have done well for the younger/middle range. There isn’t anything this company does by chance. Look at the range of women – someone to appeal to all markets, all ages and all nationalities. Laurie must have got a hefty paycheck – good on him.
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ND(18)
Agree.If a company choses a normal guy we’ll notice he looks “old”. If he doesn’t we speculate he’s “done” something and looks “ridiculous”. It’s a no-win situation. Besides I think he will appeal to men who buy their own cosmetics AND to women who buy for their men.
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It’s a skincare line, presumably, and no doubt intended for older men to help undo sun damage of years past. There is such a thing as age alleviation in skincare, not just age prevention.
I think it’s a great choice — will definitely appeal to women buying for their men, as well as be non-threatening and humorous to men.
I love hearing his natural voice and accent, too. If he’d been allowed to keep it, I might have watched House. Love the snarky expression in the ad, too, acknowledging the unexpected choice. (Btw, Gerard Butler’s grimy nighttime antics would preclude him as a spokesmodel choice, I think.)
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PER
FECTION
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