02 November 2023 , 15:08
962
0
Emmerdale star Karen Blick has left fans gobsmacked after revealing her real age on Instagram during her birthday celebrations.
The English actress, best known for playing Lydia Dingle on the popular ITV soap, shared a series of photos from her special day last week, including a beaming selfie and pictures of gifts from loved ones.
Her followers were stunned to discover that Karen had just turned 49, with many expressing their surprise in the comments. "Last year of my 40’s!" the talented TV star captioned the post. "Had a great day so far and feeling very grateful, morning walk, lovely cards, messages, homemade gifts and cake!" She also revealed that she had "no makeup" in the selfie, which was uploaded without a filter.
"No way are you 49!" one fan wrote, before admitting, "I thought you were much younger, Karen." This sentiment was echoed by multiple followers, one of whom gushed that she thought Karen was in her late 30s and "looks amazing." Others took the opportunity to praise the mum-of-two, who has been playing Lydia Dingle on Emmerdale since 2016.
Emmerdale's Karen Blick celebrated her 49th birthday last week (@karenblick1/Instagram)
Karen received some special gifts from her family (Instagram/karenblick1)"You are an amazing actress," one kind person wrote, while another said simply offered some wisdom on aging as Karen enters her final years of the 40s.
Corrie's Sue Cleaver says I'm A Celebrity stint helped her to push boundaries
"Happy Many Happy Returns Karen. You know what they said about turning 40 well it’s the same turning into the errrhh next decade!! It’s how you treat and enjoy life that counts and makes life better!"
Karen also received lovely birthday messages from her co-stars, including Michelle Hardwick and Lisa Riley, as well as a sweet gift from her daughter, 13-year-old Ruby. The Leeds native, who is married to businessman Simon, also has a nine-year-old son named Oliver.
Many people may not be aware that despite being an Emmerdale favourite, Karen only appeared on television twice before landing her big break on the Yorkshire Dales soap. She trained as a drama teacher in 2007 and has previously taught at her old sixth form college, after realizing that "acting is such a precarious business" and it would help to have another career option if a role fell through.
Emmerdale's Lydia Dingle is played by Karen BlickPrior to being cast in Emmerdale, Karen played a teacher in a 2006 episode of Channel 4 comedy drama No Angels. In that same year, she played an unnamed nurse at a clinic in Emmerdale during Viv Hope's abortion storyline. She auditioned for the role of a police officer in the soap after this debut, but didn't end up being offered the part. Aside from that, Karen developed much of her acting craft on the live stage.
"Otherwise, I’ve done plays and worked for small scale touring theatre companies and done issue-based theatre in schools, corporate role play, community radio and Christmas pantomimes,” she told the Mirror in September.
Today, Karen resides in Yorkshire with her husband and their two children.