British actor Hugh Laurie, famous for playing the grumpy Dr. House on the TV show House, has been cast as the new male face for L’Oreal Paris Men Expert products. The 52-year-old has joins Gerard Butler and Patrick Dempsey, who are already ambassadors for L’Oreal Paris.

In a statement announcing the news, he joked that he initially thought L’Oreal had “made a mistake” when they approached him. “At first I thought it was a mistake, but then I realized 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,” Laurie says.

The men’s grooming business has grown significantly over the past two years, with British men now spending more on skincare than ever before.

Cyril Chapup, the global brand president of L’Oreal Paris, adds, “Hugh Laurie is the perfect example of a modern man: genuine, uninhibited, strong and willing to pursue his passions to the end. We are very excited that he is the spokesperson for these new liberated men!”

Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Cheryl Cole, Gwen Stefani, Jane Fonda and Rachel Weisz are among the female ambassadors for L’Oreal.