HUGH Laurie, yes of “House,” will be doing the voice “Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.” in DreamWorks’ latest animation film “Monsters vs. Aliens.”

Director Rob Letterman recalls why they chose Laurie to play the part: “We wanted somebody to be very formal and erudite, because we thought that would be a great contrast with the whole ‘cockroach bad’ thing. And so, we immediately thought of Hugh. And a lot of people don’t realize, at least people in the States, that he’s a Brit. Hugh Laurie is obviously mostly known in the States for ‘House,’ but he is a famous actor for many years in England. He did ‘The Black Adder’ [television series] with Rowan Atkinson and he’s an incredible comedic actor. We were fans of his prior to ‘House.’ So it was very fortunate to have him on the movie.”

Dr. Cockroach is a brilliant scientist who turned himself into a cockroach as a result of a self-experiment gone awry. With his life’s work confiscated, the doctor spends his time locked up, working on something diabolical.

“First of all, I love doing animated projects. You wear your own clothes. I love the freedom of messing around and trying to create something in a voice. It’s exciting and a fun challenge. But also, now these animated films have sort of really become the summit of modern entertainment,” Laurie says, referring to his role as Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.

Director Vernon remembers the first time they met Laurie. “When we met with him, he had this look on his face, like, ‘Why are you guys talking to me right now?’ We toured him around the DreamWorks Animation campus, and wound up in the editing room, showing him storyboard sequences of the film. We talked casually and really hit it off. He said, ‘Yes’ on the spot! Once he got in the booth, he did not disappoint.”

Laurie adds: “After a lovely tour around the place, I was presented with this massive amount, almost like a museum, of artwork that they’d already composed…to start to get a sense I suppose, for their benefit and for prospective actors or designers and so on of the world they were trying to create. I was immediately entranced by that wonderful ‘50s feel, which is not only wonderfully relevant to the style of story they were trying to tell, but it also was a great period of American design. I was sold as soon as I walked in through the door. I didn’t tell them that, of course. I hemmed and hawed and stroked my chin and I tried to play hard to get, but I was in for a ride from word ‘Go’”.
Laurie currently stars in FOX’s medical drama “House.” He has already won two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Emmy Award playing the anti-social and brutally honest doctor Dr. Gregory House.

“Monsters Vs. Aliens” will be shown in theaters on March 27.

It is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.