“My dearest one' Benedict Cumberbatch reads Chris Barker’s letter to Bessie Moore

Benedict Cumberbatch reads the letter for LETTERS LIVE.

LETTERS LIVE is a series of curated, live events that celebrates the enduring power of literacy correspondence.
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Benedict Cumberbatch reads Chris Barker’s love letter to Bessie Moore (29 January 1945)

In September 1943, Chris Barker was serving as a signalman in North Africa when he decided to brighten the long days of war by writing to old friends. One of these was Bessie Moore, a former work colleague. The unexpected warmth of Bessie's reply changed their lives forever. Crossing continents and years, their funny, affectionate and intensely personal letters are a remarkable portrait of a love played out against the backdrop of the Second World War. Above all, their story is a stirring example of the power of letters to transform ordinary lives.
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Benedict Cumberbatch, is a British stage and screen actor best known for his role in the BBC television show Sherlock. He has also appeared in Hollywood films such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse, Star Trek: Into the Darkness and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. He has won several stage and screen acting awards , winning an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play for Frankenstien and received BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for his role in the acclaimed 2014 Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game.
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With thanks to Simon Garfield, author of My Dear Bessie, and Bernard, Peter and Irena Barker

[ScreechOwl]

His eyes make this so much more beautiful

[ludegio]

"The delay is nothing, the decision is everything" is a new motto to say when I'm late ;)

[MinaRivera]

I love how much emotion he put into it...god, I'm melting... *hits play again*

[MelodiKayis]

this is art. I hope you give us more of this, Cumberbatch reading letters, please.

[katezhulynsalvatore]

He's truly an actor, look at him with all the emotions and atmosphere he bring in while reading a letter

[prachi]

I love the way he breaths, smiles, chuckles n reads... just his presence is soo much in the moment... my deepest love from India.

[towhomitmayconcern]

Having not yet completely listened this through, and being in a quite vulnerable state of soul, I hope to god that Chris Barker did not die before reaching his beloved.

[gitcheegitcheegoo]

He just kill me in every single way, this is TERRIFIC!!!! and his eyes... make this just flawless ♡

[ginajolliffe]

Just saw this when looking at Mass Observation's site. I now have a lump in my throat and something in my eye.
And - Together they travelled a Europe finally at peace and, when Bessie’s memory began to fail, Chris cared for her at home. She died, aged 90, in 2004; Chris followed aged 93, in 2007.

[tamilapp]

Oh dear god, I am so in love with this man.... he has very quickly (ummm since May 2016, when I first became actually, TOTALLY aware of him...a clear malfunction on my part....) made his way into my heart and the the tiptop of male actors for me... Not to mention, I find him the most attractive man I have ever viewed in my 50+ years...

[MohorMom]

Omg omg, his eyes, his lips! and what is that smirk/smile Ben? Why is he always sooo attractive! :o <3

[LuckDanko]

I thought I could read until I watched this.

[LauraAlice]

i legitimately could not love this any more!!
<3 Benedict
<3 Benedicts voice

[MrsBeasley]

this is wonderful, Benedict brings this particular love back to us

[sarahmichelle]

Oh my god I can’t even explain how pure my love is for this man lol. Like literally he reads a letter to me and I just want to hug him and watch movies with him ugh. He’s just so dang classy I feel like I need to take some intensive etiquette classes now

[elizabethshampo]

I love the little smiles between sentences. And the direct eye contact. Fmfnfmf

[HEAVYHONEY]

the actor gets the glory but its the words, thoughts and feelings from the soul of someone in love that tells the warmest story.

[Hallofang]

Can we have Tom and Benidect read together please

[hiyasarmah]

The eyes, his voice ... I always cry whenever I see him doing stuff like this.

[sayounara]

*Imagines self in an Victorian Era story and makes Benedict my lover reading this to me *faints cuz it is too amazing XD