Shelley King (born 25 September 1955) is a British actress, known for her roles as Jay Harper on the BBC drama series Angels and Yasmeen Nazir on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

Shelley King
Born (1955-09-25) 25 September 1955 (age 69)
Calcutta, India
NationalityBritish
EducationCoombe Girls School, New Malden, Surrey
OccupationActress
Years active1978–present
TelevisionAngels
Coronation Street
PartnerTrilby James[1]
Websitewww.shelleykingactress.com

Early and personal life

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King was born in Calcutta, India in 1955 to Kelly King, a photographer in India and the UK. She grew up in New Malden, Surrey, and attended Coombe Girls School. In April 2018, during an interview on ITV's This Morning, King opened up about being a lesbian and discussed her own struggles and difficulties which she had with her own sexuality.[2] While appearing in Angels, King was in her mid–20s, and producers of Angels wanted to make her character gay, but due to struggling with her own sexuality, she declined.[3] She also revealed that at that time, she was turned away from entering a lesbian club due to them not believing that she was gay.[3] King is in a civil partnership with Trilby James.[4] In 2023, she announced she was being tested for autism,[5] and subsequently confirmed she had been diagnosed the following year.[6]

Career

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King made her television debut in the BBC drama series Angels as Jay Harper in 1975.[7] She remained in the series until 1980, after which she appeared in various British television series including The Jewel in the Crown, Tandoori Nights, King of the Ghetto and The Demon Headmaster.[8] In 2010, she appeared as Nakuru Kapur, in an episode of The Bill, titled, “Intervention”..Then in 2014, King made her debut appearance as Yasmeen Nazir in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.[9] Her character began featuring in a high-profile coercive control storyline from May 2019 with her on-screen husband Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholomew).[10]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1975–1980 Angels Jay Harper Main role
1984 The Jewel in the Crown Hospital Receptionist Episode: "Daughters of the Regiment"
1985–1987 Tandoori Nights Bubbly Sharma 12 episodes
1986 King of the Ghetto Nasreen Main role
Casualty Rama Patel Episode: "Teeny Poppers"
1988 Rockliffe's Babies Ruth Cellan Episode: "Looking After Your Own"
Wipe Out Dr. Kumar Episode #1.2
South of the Border Aisha Dillon Episode #1.8
1992, 2007, 2010 The Bill Mrs. Winton; Akhtar Dewan; Nalira Kapur 4 episodes
1996 A Secret Slave Kuman Television film
The Demon Headmaster Hospital Doctor Recurring role
1998 Where the Heart Is Dr. Bell Episode: "Ice Pops"
1999 See How They Run Nina Pagetter 2 episodes
2003 Code 46 William's Boss Film
2003, 2007 Silent Witness Suchvinder Juttla; Professor Jyoti Ibrahim 3 episodes
2005 Twisted Tales Larissa Episode: "The Magister"
2006 Banglatown Banquet Nazreen Television film
2008 Holby City Fadwar Kermani Episode: "Separate Lives"
2012 All in Good Time Auntie Laxmi Film
2013 EastEnders Mrs. Kayani Episode dated: 1 January 2013
Atlantis Celandine Episode: "A Girl by Any Other Name"
2014–present Coronation Street Yasmeen Nazir Series regular
2016 One Crazy Thing Mum Veer Film

References

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  1. ^ "Corrie star Shelley King knows the importance of acting FAST around stroke victims". Daily Express. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  2. ^ Warner, Sam (18 April 2018). "Coronation Street star Shelley King opens up over her sexuality in live TV interview". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Corrie's Shelley King reveals personal reason to back soap's gay storyline". Independent.ie. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Inside Coronation Street's Shelley King's real life romance with girlfriend Trilby and life in lockdown". RSVP Live. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  5. ^ Crawford, Sue (4 May 2023). "Corrie star Shelley King gets autism test after concerns over bouts of anxiety". mirror. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ^ Good Morning Britain (3 June 2024). Corrie's Shelley King: 'My Autism Diagnosis at the Age of 67' (YouTube video). Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  7. ^ Lindsay, Duncan. "Coronation Street star Shelley King relates to Rana's storyline as she struggled with her own sexuality". Metro. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Shelley King". Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  9. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (15 May 2014). "Coronation Street casts Kal's mother and teenage son". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Coronation Street spoilers: Geoff Metcalfe to free wife Yasmeen as sick revenge 'revealed'". Daily Express. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
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