Actress Claire King left fans ecstatic last year when she reprised her legendary Emmerdale role after almost 20 years away.
But returning to the spotlight as villainous Kim Tate does have its downsides - namely now having to deal with Twitter trolls.
The 57-year-old, who first stepped onto the Dales in 1989, has opened up about her nerves ahead of returning as well as arm chair critics, plastic surgery and her media shy partner.
Speaking to OK! Magazine, she that she was "nervous" about returning to the role back in October and was worried about doing the role justice.
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"A lot has changed since I’ve been away," Claire said. "Everybody’s a critic now thanks to social media and some of the comments can be very cutting.
"Everyone is still as friendly and welcoming as they’ve ever been though. I know it’s cheesy, but it felt like going home."
Some people, Claire revealed, still think she really is Kim Tate because they forget the show isn't real life.
"I was hit over the head with an umbrella in M&S by an old lady once because Kim had been cruel to Frank," she quipped.
Claire was previously married to Peter Amory, who played her stepson Chris Tate in the ITV soap, until they split in 2004 after she discovered he was having an affair with co-star Samantha Giles (Bernice).
She has been with her current partner for 11 years, who keeps away from the media spotlight and says that he has "no interest" in being part of the showbiz industry.
Asked about her plastic surgery, she said: "I tried Botox and had a temporary procedure years ago, but I didn’t like it. My bloke loves me just the way I am and I like the way I look too."
