You have to be good at conjuring up imaginary friends, which I seem to be able to do with alarming ease

Hugh Laurie

A looming possible Hollywood writers' strike means the studio wants to make the film as soon as possible.

Existing agreements with the Writers' Guild of America come to an end and studios are rushing films into production.

"They've got a bit of a race on - the film has to start before 1 April, I think," explains Laurie.

"There is a script, but no one's seen it yet. As far as I know we're going to be shooting in February."

The live action shooting of actors on sets must start before April - but as with the original film, that work is a small part of the production.

Stuart Little's every appearance is added digitally later, meaning that the actors and the crew have to work almost blindfold.

Hugh Laurie with Stuart Little co-stars Geena Davis, Jonathan Lipnicki

Director Rob Minkoff says: "I was just getting to grips with the problems of making a film where the lead character is never there.

"You have to make a leap, saying yes, it will make sense later. And as a director it becomes very critical that I focus on the actors and their performances so that later it all seems natural."

Yet according to Laurie, the whole experience is easier for the actors.

"There are times when acting to thin air seems like the most natural thing in the world.

I just stand where I'm told, I'm afraid

Hugh Laurie

"It feels very infantile: you have to be good at conjuring up imaginary friends, which I seem to be able to do with alarming ease.

"That's when you're working on your own. When you have to do it with more than one of you on the screen it's harder because you have to coordinate.

"You have to react to the same things, which can take some choreography. I just stand where I'm told, I'm afraid."

For Laurie there was the added complication of having to speak in an American accent.

Bird

"He did a great job," says Minkoff. "Someone said to me 'I thought Hugh Laurie was British'."

There was a chance that British audiences would not take to Laurie with a new voice, but both star and director say it was not a concern.

"I was more anxious about British people thinking I'm making a fool of myself not sounding American," says Laurie.

While none of the cast have seen the new script for Stuart Little 2, director Rob Minkoff has.

"The sequel is focusing on a character from the book that we didn't use, a bird who comes to live with the Littles."

As to whether there will be a third film, Laurie says he has not been asked and he rather thinks the studios will hold back.

"At $100m a film, I think they'll take it one at a time."