1 October, 2002

 

So devoted is an American fan of British heart-throb Jamie Bamber, that she is preparing for a 6,000 mile weekend trip just to see him on stage in Bristol.

 

Beth Callaway is a 47-year-old mother from Georgia in the United States.  Not someone you would expect to have a crush on a young British actor.

But Beth has been a devoted fan since she first caught sight of Jamie on American television.
And she is happy to spend time and money to watch him perform.

Jamie came to the attention of viewers worldwide in his swashbuckling role as Archie Kennedy, best friend of Horatio in the Hornblower series.

That's where Beth first set eyes on him in April 1999, though she's not sure exactly what the initial attraction was.


Character
"It's hard to say, the character he played just took my eye," she told the BBC.

"The more I watched, the more I saw a lot in Jamie and just continued to follow his career.  Beth says her husband and friends are fine with her devotion to Jamie, though admits her children laugh at her a little, even her youngest son, who is himself a would-be actor in New York.  So taken was Beth with the Hornblower star though that she decided to send her first ever fan letter.  "He seemed a nice young man and I thought it would be nice to send a supportive letter," she said.

The two have been corresponding ever since and Beth has kept up with Jamie's career in the UK with the help of British friends who send her video tapes.


September 11
And just weeks after the events of September 11th last year Beth was one of the few Americans brave enough to take to the skies, coming across the pond to watch Jamie perform.

Beth also now runs a website devoted to Jamie, with the help of two fans from Holland.

Most of the site's hits come from the US, with hits from Britain the second highest.

Although busy with work for a charity, Beth is determined to see Jamie on stage in Bristol.


Prince Hal
He makes his Old Vic debut as Prince Hal in Henry IV part I, which begins on October 11th.

She is flying over on the first Saturday of the show and hopes to see two performances before heading back to the States on the Monday - a 6,000 mile round-trip.

But isn't this a bit of an expensive crush?

"I am definitely a devoted fan," admits Beth.

"But he's such a nice young man, I can't complain."