Born:
January 10, 1963
in
Harrogate
Best Known For:
Playing Kim Tate in Emmerdale.
Early-life:
Born Claire Seed in Harrogate on January 10, 1963, but changed her name in honour of her idol, Elvis Presley. She hated school, left home at 17, dyed her hair blue and toured Holland with the band To Be Continued. While dating Geoff Cobalt Stargazer from Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction, she appeared in the band's video. The director, Young Ones star Ade Edmondson, was so impressed by Claire he employed her again for an Elvis Costello video. She then trained for a year at the Actor's Institute.
Career:
King appeared in Alas Smith and Jones, a Robbie Coltrane Special, Hale and Pace and the sitcom Babes in the Wood, but is still best known for her role in Emmerdale, where she spent 10 years playing Kim Tate. After leaving the soap in 1999, she took time off to concentrate on her horse-racing syndicate. Her TV credits include a recurring role on Bad Girls and guest appearances in Dalziel and Pascoe, Hollyoaks, Holby City, The Royal and Casualty. She finished sixth in the 2006 series of Strictly Come Dancing. In the summer of 2014, she entered the Celebrity Big Brother house, but left on day 14 to receive medical attention. King has also joined Coronation Street, playing Liz McDonald's friend Erika Simmonds.
Quote:
"I'm not a big fan of soaps. I think there's total soap overkill at the moment."
Trivia:
She has appeared in a number of pantomimes.