Who is Alison King? Markfield's ITV Coronation Street star
Coronation Street is an iconic show - and it's had its fair share of Leicestershire stars on its books over the years. Among its most notable is Loughborough's David Neilson who plays the beloved Roy Cropper.
But he is not the only current Corrie star from our part of the world. No, Leicester's Alison King is there with him and best known to million for her long-standing role as Carla Connor on the soap.
During her near 20 years on Corrie, Alison has been the winner of the British Soap Awards' Best Actress and is regarded for her gritty acting skills and beautiful looks. But who is this Leicestershire star and how did she rise to fame?
READ MORE: The hidden life of Loughborough's Roy Cropper Coronation Street icon David Neilson
How old is Alison King and where is she from?
Alison was born on March 3, 1973 at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. The 51-year-old grew up in Markfield and developed a love for acting as a student at South Charnwood High School.
After school, she worked as a dental nurse before beginning her professional training at North Cheshire Theatre School when she was 22.
How did Alison King become an actress?
Before completing her diploma, Alison secured her first major role in the Sky One drama Dream Team as Lynda Block. She worked on the show for three years and then returned to the role several years later. In 2006, she landed her career-defining role as Carla Connor in Coronation Street.
Alison also modelled in the late 1990s, becoming the face of Boddington beer and featuring regularly in Daz adverts. She has been nominated for multiple British Soap Awards including Best Dramatic Performance and Sexiest Female. She won Best Actress in 2012.
Alison King's Carla Connor
A familiar face on the cobbles, King has been playing Carla Connor for nearly 20 years. The iconic character was first introduced in 2006 as the wife of Paul Connor. Throughout the series, Carla has been at the centre of major storylines.
At 51, Alison's character has been through the ringer. Alongside a heart-wrenching sexual assault storyline, Carla has also endured kidnapping, battled alcoholism, engaged in an affair, and even been suspected of murder.
Most recently, Carla has been entangled in a romantic storyline with DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers). Fans find their slow-burn relationship swoon-worthy.
Has Alison King got children?
Alison has a 15 year-old daughter named Daisy, who she shares with ex-fiancée Adam Hucket. The actress has had multiple long-term partners including a five-year romance with Corrie colleague Philip Middlemiss and a former relationship that ended over lockdown with IT consultant David Stuckley.
Has Alison King had cosmetic surgery?
The actress shared that she's undertaken cosmetic surgery to her smile multiple times. She explained how thumb-sucking as a child left her feeling insecure about her dental appearance and caused her to undergo cosmetic surgery on her teeth whilst at drama school.
Alison also admitted in 2015 to having further aesthetic treatments. In an interview with dentistry.co,uk she said: "It was during my time at drama school that I decided to undergo cosmetic surgery at a dental practice in London. However, I wasn't completely satisfied with the final result and always felt there was room for improvement."
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