Julian Morris reads ‘erotically-charged’ Carol Ann Duffy poem ‘Warming Her Pearls’
Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley is part of the Attitude Pride at Home digital festival taking place online from 9-19 June.
Words: Brian Leonard
Pretty Little Liars star Julian Morris gives us a taste of the sensual as recites Carol Ann Duffy’s LGBTQ poem ‘Warming Her Pearls’.
The British actor, 39, joins Attitude in the plush Bentley Flying Spur for Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley. The series is part of the Attitude Pride at Home series, which runs from 9 to 19 June.
Explaining his choice of text, Julian says: “It is a highly erotically-charged fever dream of a poem about one woman’s love for another.”
The poem, which tells the story of a servant’s love for her mistress. is read beautifully, with the actor taking care to pause here and there to let each refrain breathe and be absorbed by the audience. The themes of love and desire are familiar to us all.
The act of a servant warming her mistress’ pearls was a common practice in Edwardian and Victorian England.
As part of Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley, £500 is being donated to a charity of Julian’s choosing. He has chosen Rainbow Railroad and says: “Rainbow Railroad rescues LGBTQ+ people around the world who are facing persecution, violence, and death.
“The work they do is vital and singular. I’m deeply moved by their mission and grateful to partner with Attitude to raise money for them.”
Joining Julian in Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley are the Olympic champion and Strictly trailblazer Nicola Adams, who will recite a poem by fellow boxing legend Muhammed Ali, as well as actor Tom Prior will read a passage from The Story of Roman; the book that his recent LGBTQ romantic drama Firebird is based on.
Author Jack Guinness delivers the forward from his acclaimed 2021 book The Queer Bible, while internet superstar Lewys Ball recites lyrics from Lil Nas X’s track ‘Sun Goes Down’, which deal with coming out.
Finally, star of The Chase Paul Sinha turns to the band that “soundtracked his life” – Pet Shop Boys – for his reading; a recital of their 1990 track ‘Being Boring’, which Sinha describes as a “life-affirming anthem to hedonism and the acute sense of loss people feel along the way”.
Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley is part of Attitude Pride at Home, which runs from 9-19 June on attitude.co.uk, youtube.com/attitudemag, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@attitudemag).
Attitude Pride at Home is to benefit the Attitude Magazine Foundation for LGBT causes.
To donate £3 please text ATHOME3 to 70480 or click here.