Shiromi Arserio’s heartfelt performance captures youthful innocence and passion when two 14-year-old girls must hide their blossoming love for one another from the world.
Learned by Heart (9 hours) is set in the confines of an English boarding school in the 1800s—a time when same-sex relationships were criminalized. Although wealthy heiress Eliza Raine tries to follow the rules and not draw attention to herself, the biracial girl can’t escape questions and judgment about her Indian and English heritage. New student Anne Lister makes a strong impression on Eliza because Anne is confident, outspoken and so different from the others. Before long, Eliza is falling for Anne. Arserio’s velvety voice sweeps effortlessly between Eliza’s perspective as a reserved schoolgirl and that of her ardent adult self, conveying Eliza’s anguish as she confronts the consequences of her fateful affections.
Arserio’s blend of emotion and restraint captures the intensity of this tale of desire and devotion by Emma Donoghue.
