It's not every day you get veteran actress Helen Mirren reading one of the greatest poetic works of the 19th century - and all because she wanted to make a late-night talk show host cry.

So, does it work? Well, see for yourself - but, to be honest, we're going to need a moment here because it's quite... yeah. Also, yes, the reason it sounds familiar is because it's the poem Judi Dench reads out in Skyfall just before Javier Bardem comes to try kill her that's timed perfectly with his entrance.

Here's Helen Mirren reading Alfred Lord Tennyson's Ulysses.