Inside Emmerdale Claire King’s life from co-star split to facelift and health struggles
Emmerdale's Kim Tate star Claire King has faced her fair share of heartbreak and drama away from the ITV soap
Inside Emmerdale Claire King’s life from co-star split to facelift and health struggles(Image: ITV)
Claire King is a soap legend playing Kim Tate on Emmerdale – but what do we know about her real life?
Actress Claire joined the ITV soap way back in 1989 – and as the ruthless man-eating queen of the village, she has played a part in several big storylines. From her many feuds in the Dales to faking her own death, her time on the show has not been short of drama.
Kim’s also been involved in several famous romances – including her affair and marriage to Frank Tate (Norman Bowler) and her romance with Will Taylor (Dean Andrews).
Away from the ITV soap and village though, Kim actress Claire has faced her fair share of heartbreak and drama. Here’s everything we know about Claire’s life.
Claire’s co-star split
Claire previously dated her Emmerdale co-star (Image: Alan Olley/TV Times via Getty Images))
During Claire’s first stint in the Dales she met her future husband, Peter Amory, who played Chris Tate, the son of Kim’s husband Frank (Norman Bowler)
A romance blossomed on the set between Claire and Peter, who tied the knot in 1994 and remained together for a decade. Their marriage, however, came to an abrupt end when it was alleged that Peter had been unfaithful to Claire with fellow Emmerdale actress Samantha Giles, who portrayed Bernice Blackstock.
Despite the devastating blow, Claire discovered love once more and is now contentedly married. Her husband chooses to remain out of the public eye, and she has taken on the role of stepmother to his two children.
Claire on having a facelift
She’s spoken about why she had the procedure (Image: Sky Living)
Claire has been open about undergoing a mini facelift a few years back. She had the procedure after work dried up and she felt like she was competing at auditions against other actors who had gone under the knife.
The single-stitch facelift procedure gave her the boost she needed and she soon landed the role of Erica Holroyd in Coronation Street.
“It got me out of that black hole. My agent at the time had said, ‘Right, what you need is a facelift.’ It got me loads of work because I just felt better about myself and it gave me a little perk up,” she previously said.
Meanwhile talking to Hello! Magazine, she shared: “When I looked at my double chin and sagging jawline, I was prepared to try a cosmetic procedure to improve my chances of being offered new parts in the job I loved.”
And after having the operation, Claire said: “My life started to take off again. I felt happier and more upbeat.”
Claire’s health struggles
Claire’s been open about her health struggle(Image: ITV)
Claire has also battled with a long-term health problem after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her late 20s.
The actress had to take a break from filming for Emmerdale in 2020 as she had to isolate at home during the coronavirus lockdown. Speaking of her condition, she told OK! magazine: “I struggled to go to work and do the things I love, like horse-riding, because of the terrible pressure it put on my knees.
“I can certainly relate to the ‘invisible disease’ – although my symptoms don’t always show, it doesn’t mean I’m not in pain or feeling exhausted.”
Claire’s condition has become so severe that she had the joints in her fingers removed and replaced with plates in order to relieve her of symptoms.
“When I get a flare-up, it’s not nice and it does make you feel very tired,” she also told OK! Magazine in 2020. “If I’m on location in winter, the cold feels like it gets to your bones.
“Often people, don’t see it as an issue because you aren’t in a wheelchair or limping, but they look after me on the show and give me more indoor scenes during winter.”
