Blog interview with Claire King - who will play Erica Holroyd

Thank Goodness! Someone to cheer Nick up will be shortly coming his way. Her name is Erica Holroyd and she will turn Nick’s life around -except that she is only on our screens for an introductory two weeks - but she will be back.  

So who is she and where does she come from? Well, she is a friend of Liz’s and they met in Spain where Erica runs a bar. When she was married, her husband was a bit too handy with his fists but she has escaped him now. Liz and Erica looked out for each other in Spain, and are close friends.

Erica is played by Claire King, who some may recognize from Bad Girls and she also played Kim Tate in Emmerdale.

I was lucky enough to meet Claire at Media City, and this is how she answered the interview questions…

What sort of a person is Erica?  She’s straight talking, not at all bitchy and has a great sense of humour. She wants to live life to the full and that involves a whirlwind affair with Nick Tilsley. Gail thinks Erica is loud and brash and clearly not good enough for her darling boy. When Gail asks Erica what she is giving Nick for Christmas, Erica, with a twinkle in her eye, tells her that she already gave it to him last night…

There aren’t many scenes where I don’t have a drink in my hand, actually!

What does Erica wear?

Erica’s clothing is pretty much like Claire’s, in that they both favour skinny jeans and leather jackets.

While on the subject of appearance, Erica is tanned, as Claire herself had only just come back from Spain so her tan must be topped up regularly. Claire’s long pink nails will have to go for upkeep purposes.

How does Claire feel about being presented  as a cougar?

Claire says she’s happy with the cougar title and is hanging on to her youth like grim death. She is of course the older woman but she is also good for him. She brings him out of himself and out of his suits. He even wears jeans at times.

Apart from putting a spring in Nick’s step, why is she here?

She has come to se her mother who lives quite near. She is also here to sort out some family business. Her mother is not very well but there is an added difficulty in that mother and daughter do not get on. As yet, the reason why mother and daughter do not get on is unknown, but it will come out eventually. Mum lives in Preston and Erica had sent Liz a postcard to let her know she was on her way. Liz, though, did not receive the card so Erica’s arrival comes as a surprise to her.

How was it working with Ben, who plays Nick?

Oh he’s been really welcoming, as has Bev (Liz), so that is great. Every time Claire does a bed scene, she says it’s, ‘Hi, I’m Claire, shall we get to it?’ But at least Ben and Claire got to know each other a little because one of the camera men had a funeral to go to which delayed the filming.

Will Nick and Erica actually be seen in bed with each other? Was it an instant attraction?

No, viewers will see them on the morning after or on their way to bed.

The two of them get talking and he sees something in her that is unlike a clingy younger person; nor does he think she’ll be trouble. She’s an older woman who knows her own mind. He loves her attitude and quite simply, she makes him feel good, after all the horrors he has been through, including the breakdown of his marriage and Leanne’s ensuing and ongoing affair with Kal.  But, Erica’s mother has a fall and so Erica is forced to stay longer and as a consequence, Nick becomes anxious, wondering if Erica wants more out of the affair.

As for Gail, Erica doesn’t care what she says to her. Gail asks if he has had a Christmas present from her and she tells her, yes, she gave it to him last night   - with a  twinkle in her eye.

Was Claire looking for work in a soap?

Well she knew Stuart (Blackburn – Corrie boss) when she was at Emmerdale and he also came to see her in a play at The Lowry called Fetish Nights. So she put the idea of being in Corrie into his head.

Who or what has made Claire what she is today?

Friends, family, music. She was in a band called Zodiac and was a singer.  She was influenced by Toyah and Debbie Harry. However after years of smoking she no longer has a voice, but she has given up smoking – for three months so far.

What does Claire want for Christmas?

Claire said that she would like better health for her parents. She worries that they are inevitably getting older.

New Year’s Resolutions?

To continue not to smoke, to lose a bit of weight and do more exercise. 

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