Emmerdale star Claire King (61), popularly known for her character Kim Tate, is proving that age doesn’t matter in the world of TV dramas. She kicked it off with her seductive beauty, and now she is the core of some of the steamy plots on the show. Recently, the veteran soap star talked about how she went from doing steamy scenes to figuring out complicated stories. Claire also shared about the difficulties of being a soap star while dealing with arthritis. Although Claire has a lot on her plate with busy schedules, her charm shines through, telling us why she’s a role model for both the young and old generation.
Emmerdale: Claire King’s Drastic Character Development
Claire King made a dramatic return after 20 long years in 2018. Since then, she has been involved in some of the most complicated plots. Recently, she talked about how her character and soap have evolved over time. She said, “The past five years have gone so quickly, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like that. Back in the day, we were doing two episodes a week or three a week, but now, with six a week, it’s full-on.” Back then, Claire’s character was involved in steamy scenes, but now she has come back as the sass queen of Emmerdale.
In an interview, the Emmerdale star said, “If someone whistles at me from a scaffold, I’ll just stand there, whistle back, and tell them to keep it coming!” She added, “I’m more of a Gilf than a Milf.” By and large, Claire’s fan base consists of younger people, she revealed. Claire totally agrees that her saucy scenes are not for everyone. She continued, “I have seen comments, and they don’t really like anyone over 50 doing it on their TV screens.”
Claire Reveals She Was Not Sure About Her Character
While looking back at her comeback on Emmerdale, Claire King accepted that she wasn’t sure if the audience would appreciate her sassy character. She said that, to begin with, she was on for six months as she had pre-committed projects. She stated, ‘It was kind of, ‘Let’s see what happens over the next six months.” There were mixed opinions about Claire’s return. The younger generation loves her character, while the older generation fails to relate with her at times.
Claire opened up about her struggle with rheumatoid arthritis. She is no longer seen in high heels in her steamy scenes. It’s because she can’t wear heels because of her disease. She said, “I’ve had arthritis for 35 years; I’ve got metal in my hands. Last year, I had metal pins put in. Everything’s falling to bits!” She accepted that fans would think she’d be in high stilettos, but if you look, it’s always boots. She said, “I would love to wear heels, but they just hurt.” She added, “I can wear them for about half an hour, but I always take my flip-flops into the studio.”
“Having Older Women On Our TV Screens Is Really Important,” Says Claire
Along with Emmerdale, Claire has also been a part of Bad Girls as prison governor Karen Betts. She said, “We’ve got a wealth of experience, and having older women on our TV screens is really important.” She highlighted that Emmerdale and Coronation Street are the perfect soaps for having strong women characters. Claire has always faced all the challenges with her chin up. Despite her diseases and age, she insisted that she won’t give up, The Kim Tate actress said, “People say, ‘How does it feel when you turn 60?’ I was just happy that I’m still here!
Emmerdale bosses have confirmed that there are some big Christmas storylines awaiting Kim. She lives with her long-term partner, who she hasn’t revealed yet. While juggling a busy schedule, the actress makes some time between living in North Yorkshire and Spain. She said: “My character has got so many fingers in a lot of pies and is involved in so many other people’s storylines. She usually tries to take a break in spring, summer, autumn, and Christmas. Undoubtedly, Claire is a strong woman and a solid character. The TV industry needs more women like her. To know more about Claire and her character, stay tuned to the TV Season & Spoilers. Also, for more Emmerdale updates, keep checking!