Russell Brand: `I love Hugh Laurie`

The actors teamed up for forthcoming animated movie, Hop, and Brand admitted that one of the main reasons that he agreed to voice the Easter Bunny was so he could work with Laurie.

He told Access Hollywood that his man-crush began when he first saw the House star in British comedy, Blackadder.

'I love him. I'm a massive fan of Blackadder. Truly, truly love Hugh Laurie,' Brand said.

Brand, 35, stars in a remake of 1981 film, Arthur, about an alcoholic playboy.

And, having battled his own alcohol addiction, he joked that the original Arthur was to blame for him becoming hooked in the first place.

'I watched it a lot 'cause when you're a kid it's fun because he's always drunk and everything,' he said.

'I've been thinking about it. Now, I think that film made me grow to become an alcoholic. It makes it seem like it's a big laugh. I think it contributed to my subsequent alcoholism I only conquered eight years ago after a hell of a lot of trouble.'