Emmerdale legend Claire King has turned another year older.
The Kim Tate actress celebrates her 60th birthday on January 10.
From affairs with Neil Kincaid and Dave Glover in the nineties to masterminding a plan for the Dingles to lose their home, to feuds with villagers, soap villain Kim has been involved with some of the soap’s most dramatic storylines.
It’s been a dramatic 38 years since Claire King first stepped onto the Dales but it’s not the only soap role that the actress has had.
Born on January 10 1962 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Claire also starred in rival soaps Hollyoaks as Andrea Mason QC from 2005 until 2012 and Coronation Street as Erica Holroyd from 2014 until 2017.
(Image: ITV)
On her way to her first acting role auditions though, Claire revealed that some sleazy casting directors had lured her into hotel rooms, with the actress saying to The Sun: “I’ve been to several castings where I’ve thought, ‘This isn’t right, why am I in a hotel room? Why aren’t I in an office or a studio?'”
While Claire said that she had never been propositioned during any of those auditions, she said that she sadly had “plenty of friends who have ended up in dodgy situations. And it still happens now.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Along with Emmerdale, Claire also played tough talking Karen Betts in the acclaimed drama series Bad Girls from 2000 until 2004, and has starred in programmes such as The Royal, Holby City and Doctors.
However, her role as Kim is one that she will forever be known for, with the actress admitting that she is planning to retire from acting after she is finished playing the character.
(Image: ITV)
While playing Kim Tate, Claire also met ex-husband Peter Amory, who played her stepson Chris Tate in the soap.
However, it was reported by The Mirror that their 10-year marriage broke down when it was revealed that Peter was having an affair with one of their Emmerdale co-stars, Samantha Giles, who played Bernice Blackstock.
Talking to The Mirror in 2005, Claire said: “I questioned Pete and he admitted it had been going on for a while.
(Image: BBC)
“He told me it was over but then it started again. At that point I said: ‘Well, you have to go with her then, because it obviously isn’t going to stop.'”
However, she has said that she does still get along with both Peter and Samantha, saying: “We were close and we’ll always be mates.”
Elsewhere in Claire’s life outside of Emmerdale, the actress has also shown us her impressive dance moves on Strictly come dancing in 2006.
With partner Brendan Cole, she successfully danced her way to week eight, before the couple were eliminated.
Emmedale airs weekdays on ITV at 7pm
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
