While most Americans have probably never heard of the Victorian seaside town of Bournemouth, which is on the south coast of England, they just might be surprised at some of the connections that this beautiful place with it’s golden sandy beaches has with some people that they do know.

Have you heard of Jayne Atkinson?  If not, are you familiar with Karen Hayes from the television drama 24?  Jayne plays the part of Karen Hayes, and has also appeared in a number of other television shows and movies, but before her family moved to Hollywood in Florida, she was actually born in Bournemouth.

Now hands up anyone from the USA who hasn’t heard of the name John Wilkes Booth?  I thought so, not a lot of hands going up in the air there.  As we know from the history books, John Wilkes Booth is the man who shot President Abraham Lincoln.  After the assassination of Lincoln, the family was disgraced, and crossed the Atlantic, settling in Bournemouth of all places.

Actor Charles Gray you also might not have heard of, but I am sure you know the villain Blofeld from the James Bond movies.  One and the same person of course.  Charles was born in Bournemouth, and actually went to school with Benny Hill, someone else I am sure you have heard of.

So have I tweaked your curiosity?  There are many other famous people who have a connection with Bournemouth, and believe it or not I struggled to fit them all into a single lens on Squidoo.  I hope you will come pay a visit, the lens is Famous People From Bournemouth.