Series of the Day: "The Night Manager" — When Hugh Laurie Proved He Could Be Scarier Than Any Villain

On June 11, Hugh Laurie turned 66 — and if you still associate him exclusively with a cane, grim diagnoses, and the sarcasm of "House M.D.," it's high time to discover his other, far more dangerous persona.

Because in "The Night Manager" (2016), Laurie doesn't heal — he kills. And he does it with terrifying charm.

The BBC and AMC miniseries based on John le Carré's novel tells the story of former soldier Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), who goes undercover working for wealthy and charismatic arms dealer Richard Roper. And here's where Laurie appears — not in his familiar role as a sarcastic antihero, but as a devilishly charming, cruel, and absolutely ruthless villain.
Actor Hugh Laurie peeks out from around a corner, to his right actor Tom Hiddleston stands in a blue jacket at three-quarter angle
Scenes from The Night Manager
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Interestingly, by this point had already written a book called "The Gun Seller" back in the '90s. And here's an almost mystical coincidence: twenty years later, he played that very "gun seller" — only in an even more predatory and realistic form.

What makes "The Night Manager" special? First, the pacing. The series feels woven from pure tension: luxurious locations, double-crossing games, impossible love, moral choices, and the constant sense that everything's about to fall apart.

Second, the acting duels. Hiddleston is convincing as ever here, but it's Laurie who steals the show. His Roper is a real monster in a tuxedo (though by the finale, you might even feel some sympathy for him). It's hard to look away.
The Night Manager trailer
The role earned Laurie his third Golden Globe and, strangely enough, became more of a revelation than even the cult classic "House M.D.." Because while Gregory House was a brilliantly twisted sociopath, Richard Roper is pure, refined evil. And to play him so that viewers can't decide whether they hate him or admire him — now that's masterful acting.

So if you want to celebrate his birthday by remembering what Hugh Laurie is really worth appreciating — forget about "House" for the evening and watch "The Night Manager."

Worth noting that the series ranks among critically and audience-acclaimed projects: it scores 8.0 on IMDb and 91% "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes. Earlier on zoomboola.com we covered the film "Triangle" — when reality becomes a puzzle.