OnlyOnAOL: 'Big Bang' star Simon Helberg like you've never heard him

Donna Freydkin
Updated
Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg On "Florence Foster Jenkins"
Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg On "Florence Foster Jenkins"

By: Donna Freydkin

As Howard Joel Wolowitz, Simon Helberg has appeared in every episode of the CBS smash "The Big Bang Theory." His Howard is an aerospace engineer, a comic book geek, speaks six languages, and has a dirty mind.

Which is one of the many reasons Helberg so relished playing his complete opposite in "Florence Foster Jenkins," opening Friday.

"Yes. Yes. I don't mean that I don't enjoy playing Howard. It's been such a long time, I haven't been able to play many other characters. I'm hungry to do that. And this guy is so different than that guy."

Indeed, he is. Helberg's Cosme McMoon is a wide-eyed, perpetually giggling pianist hired to accompany what could well be the world's least gifted songstress (Meryl Streep) as she stuns Manhattan with her vocal ministrations.

AOL Build Speaker Series - Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg, "Florence Foster Jenkins"
AOL Build Speaker Series - Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg, "Florence Foster Jenkins"

In reality, says Helberg, he's a pro at "funny singing. If I do a lot of jazz hands and take the focus off my voice. It's enough to maybe get by."

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