Seth Rogen on his Vancouver transit voice: 'It's more a friendly, instructive tone'

Public transit in Vancouver just got a littlemore fun with some help from actor Seth Rogen.

The Vancouver-born star of films such asKnocked Up and The40-Year-Old Virgincan now be heard making public announcements for the city's SkyTrain and bus system.

"I was shocked when they went along with it, honestly," Rogen told CBCNews during an interview in Los Angeles Saturday promoting his latest film Like Father.

"But they did go along with it and then I recorded it. And now, you can hear my voice giving you, kind of, etiquette tips."

Seth Rogen talks about lending his voice to Vancouver's transit system

6 years ago

Duration 0:57

The Canadian actor tells CBC's Zulekha Nathoo in Los Angeles why he jumped at the chance to connect with riders in his hometown

Riders can hear Rogen'strademark voice and laugh over the loudspeakerwarning against some of public transit's cardinal sinsputting feet on seats and taking up extra space with a bag for starters.

"Hey Vancouver, it's Seth," one of the announcements says. "Here's a tip to make your transit ride even more awesome.I know your bag is probably very nice and you care deeply for it. But thatdoesn't mean it needs its own seat."

The older I get, the more I realize how rare it is to like where you're from.- Seth Rogen, speaking abouthis hometown of Vancouver

Rogen, who did the voice work for free, saysthe lessons are meant to belight-hearted.

"I wouldn't say it's too stern," he told CBC News. "It's more a friendly, instructive tone."

The announcements were originally supposed to feature Morgan Freeman's voice as part of a Visa ad campaign. But after the credit card company cut ties with the Academy Award-winningactor following sexual misconduct allegations, social media users suggestedRogen as an alternative.

Rogen, 36, says he jumped at the chance not just because he grew up using public transit in the city and still does whenever he visits but because hemaintains a strong attachment to the cityhe says helped shaped him.

"A lot of people hate where they're from and want nothing to do with where they're from," he said. "The older I get, the more I realize how rare it is to like where you're from and so I even more feel an urge to bolster and associate myself with it."