Claire King (born Claire Seed on 10 January 1963 in Harrogate, Yorkshire) is a popular English actress, best known for playing the roles of Kim Tate in the ITV Soap Opera Emmerdale from 1988 to 1999 and Karen Betts in Bad Girls from 2000 to 2004.
King attended Harrogate Ladies College, and as a punk chose a career in the music business, as a disc jockey in a Leeds nightclub. She then joined the pop groups Fidea and later To Be Continued as lead singer.
Her career moved her to London, where she lived with Geoff Bird, alias guitarist Cobalt Stargazer of the group Zodiac Mindwarp. After making her acting debut danicing in one of their video's, the relationship broke down and she became a Rock n Roll Groupie. After a series of short term relationships, she decided to become an actress, but when she tried to register with actors union Equity, she found there was already another Claire Seed, so changed her name to King in light of her love of horse racing (the sport of kings) and her favourite singer Elvis Presley.
Kim Tate was a classic soap character and had storylines including having an affair with Neil Kincaid in 1992. Remarrying Frank Tate again and then started an affair with David Glover in 1995 which the viewers loved and was the centre of attention for that year.
Karen Betts was a fictional character in the award winning drama, Bad Girls. She played the G-Wing governor from series 2 to series 5 when she was set up for drink driving by Jim Fenner. She later returned in series 6 to bring Fenner down for good by proving her innocence. She was last seen with Neil Grayling confronting Jim on his wedding day by saying "The police are on their way Jim."
On 31 December 2006, it was rumoured that King was offered a part in ABC's Desperate Housewives after the producers noticed her on Strictly Come Dancing during a visit to the UK. If she did gain the part, then she would play the secret sister of Edie Britt played by Nicollette Sheridan. In April, this was confirmed, although she won't appear until the next season. It has also been confirmed that the character's name will be Helen.
In 1999, King had guest appearance role in Babes In The Wood. In 2006 King starred in Hollyoaks: In The City as a business woman who'd do anything for money and also in Hollyoaks as a lawyer to character Justin Burton. In 2006 she had a guest role in Mayo as Gina Harper.
King appeared in Series 4 of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Brendan Cole. Claire and Brendan were knocked out of the competition at the end of the eighth show, and were the ninth couple to leave. She later revealed in The People that Brendan was very uneasy towards her as a dancing partner.
In 2007 King took part in BBC Two reality show Safari School filmed in the South African bush.
King was once a Rock n Roll Groupie, and when she published her autobiography she revealed that in her late teens she had an affair with Bob Geldof as well as a fling with Vinnie Jones and the then little-known jockey Frankie Dettori.
King was married for 10 years to actor Peter Amory who played her step-son Chris Tate in Emmerdale. The marriage broke-up after she left the series.
King ended her engagement to fellow actor John Robson after disagreements over where they would be living. She currently lives in a converted barn near Harrogate, with her horses and Labrador dogs.
