Image Source: TheSpectrum.com, IMDb

If you have a love for classics, one film you certainly can not miss is Sidney Poitier's "To Sir, With Love." The film has a separate fanbase for its very interesting storyline and brought Hollywood fame to Scottish singer Lulu. The singer has absolutely owed fans for six decades, and her 1967 film with Poitier remains one of her best works. 

The film had a varied storyline talking about a wide range of issues ranging from race and more in an East London school known for its strictness. Apart from portraying the character of a student in a British Guyanese teacher's class (played by Sidney Poitier), Lulu also amassed immense love for the title track of the film.

Lulu went on to feature on British television and got to work with stars like Jimi Hendrix. The chart-topping singer married Maurice Gibb from the Bee Gees and eventually found her way back to ruling the charts under the directorship of David Bowie. Her cover of the song "The Man Who Sold the World" topped the charts in 1974 and became a top-performing track not only in the  U.K. but also in Europe. Lulu also and "The Man With the Golden Gun," which became the James Bond theme song. 

She performed with other artists like John, Bobby Womack, and others. Recently, Lulu got to sing the titular song for "My Old School," an animated feature that premiered at the Sundance. Recently, Lulu sat through a virtual interview with Variety to talk about the shining star that Sidney Poitier was. The actor passed away earlier this January in 2022. Apart from Poitier, the 73-year-old singer also shared her experience with Bowie, who has passed his 5 years death anniversary. 

Talking about how she got the chance to star along with the phenomenal Sidney Poitier, Lulu shared that she was quite young back. Her exceptional music career had taken off only at 15 years of age, and just at 18, she starred with Poitier. Being a young star, she truly loved the attention she got, but only until she realized there are far more famous celebrities than her. 

Talking about her first meeting with the actor, she shared, "I thought I was the bee’s knees until I got there and realized I was in the presence of somebody very special. I was terrified! His reputation quite clearly preceded him, and when you come into contact with an energy like that… the word that jumps to the front of my mind is dignity — he exuded dignity."

Not only was Poitier a man of significant talent, but carried himself with immense standard as he was. His personality and aura clearly reflected off the way he held himself, making himself stand tall and dignified. Being in the presence of an actor for the first time in her life, Luly shared, "I was a singer and had never acted a day in my life, so it was all very daunting."

Despite his massive presence, Poitier was not one to show off or just frolic about. The actor "didn’t make a big noise and hang out with the kids," said the singer. Hence, Sidney Poitier very consciously picked an image that he wanted to portray to the world for himself. Lulu shared, "I’m certain that every part he chose to play was very carefully thought out. It’s how he wanted to live his life: as a good human being, and if he was going to portray a character, he wanted it to be one that would show that human beings can uplift themselves."

"He was a teacher for me in the film, and in every film, I ever saw him in," added the singer.

It is safe to say that Poitier left a long-lasting effect on the young girl that Lulu was, and in a way, he shaped her for the years to come. Not only did she get to launch into the acting world with her film with him, but it entirely shaped the face of her career thenceforth. The singer shared that she wished for one chance to let him know how grateful she is for his presence in her life. 

"It’s hard to find the right words to describe him and what he did for me — now that he’s gone, I have some sadness about not having spent enough time with him, not having really showed him my gratitude as a young performer," she said. "He gave me one of the biggest chances of my career and my life, and I’m very grateful to him for that experience."

The film was the first of its kind to speak on the matters of racism and prejudice, and it made the world a better place for people who learned from what the story had to teach. Lulu went on to say that America at the time could not have produced such a gem. "That film could not have been made in America at the time, and the message he gave with it — that we are all the same, it’s all about love and education. And the song is there forever, too — it certainly made a difference for me," said Lulu.

 She also revealed, "I never liked British music when I was young, not until the Beatles — I only liked Black American music, and suddenly Black American musicians were calling me “Sister Lulu."

Lulu is a still a sensational singer at 73, after decades in the industry; Credits: Smooth Radio

Lulu continues to be a hit onstage presence and makes the best out of what she does!