British actress Dame Diana Rigg, famous for roles including Emma Peel in TV series The Avengers and Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 82.
Diana Rigg speaks as she receives the Icon Award during the opening ceremony of the 2nd edition of the Cannes International Series Festival (Canneseries) on April 5, 2019, at the Palais des Festival in Cannes, southern France. Photo: AFP
Her daughter, actress Rachael Stirling, said she died of cancer, after being diagnosed in March.
"My Beloved Ma died peacefully in her sleep early this morning, at home, surrounded by family," Stirling said in a statement.
"She died of cancer diagnosed in March, and spent her last months joyfully reflecting on her extraordinary life, full of love, laughter and a deep pride in her profession. I will miss her beyond words."
Rigg, born in Doncaster in northern England, moved with her family to India before going to school in England. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before making her debut at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959.
It was her role as the karate-kicking, leather-clad secret agent Emma Peel in The Avengers, alongside Patrick McNee's bowler-hatted John Steed, that brought her to wide attention.
She went on to star in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service in which her character marries George Lazenby's 007.
"We are very sad to hear of the passing of Dame Diana Rigg, the legendary stage and screen actress who was much beloved by Bond fans for her memorable performance as Tracy di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the only woman to have married James Bond." pic.twitter.com/nqQCSg35oM
— James Bond (@007) September 10, 2020
Lazenby said he was "so sad" to hear of her death, while Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli also paid tribute.
A return to the theatre resulted in a string of hits in the 1970s and 80s. Her four Tony Awards nominations resulted in a win for her searing portrayal in the leading role in the stage play Medea in 1994.
Recently, she is best known for playing Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones.
The Game of Thrones official account honoured her.
Be a dragon.
— Game of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) September 10, 2020
The realm will always remember Diana Rigg.
Others paying tribute included Sir Tom Stoppard, who remembered her "luminous" talent".
Fellow playwright Sir David Hare said the actress had a dazzling change of direction in middle age as a great classical actor. "When Emma Peel played Euripides' Medea, Albee's Martha and Brecht's Mother Courage she swept all before her," he said.
Diana Rigg. Photo: AFP / ABC Weekend Television / Associa / Collection Christophel
Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster Waldau, who played Jaime Lannister, said the actress "always raised the bar with her incredible talent, intelligence and wit. An absolute joy and honour to work with".
Sherlock writer and actor Mark Gatiss fondly recalled working with her, while Stephen Merchant remembered her in a scene from his show Extras.
Actor David Suchet, who starred with Dame Diana in the 1996 West End production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme she was "very generous and warm".
He said: "I met her for the first time in the rehearsal room and I remember being intimidated and nervous. She started as she continued, with 100 guns blazing, and was extremely powerful. I remember her having a fierce intelligence and extraordinary strength of passion as well."
Vanessa Redgrave said she was a "wonderful, wonderful actress", while Mia Farrow tweeted: "She was magnificent!! Gratitude to the great Diana Rigg for so many fearless, fascinating performances. But we wanted more."
Baby Driver director Edgar Wright said it was "beyond a thrill to work with her on her final film" - the forthcoming Last Night in Soho.
"She exceeded all my highest expectations, so blazingly talented, fiery and funny. Miss you already Dame D."
Director Jonathan Kent added that her "combination of force of personality, beauty, courage and sheer emotional power, made her a great classical actress - one of an astonishing generation of British stage performers".
"Her dazzling wit and that inimitable voice made her an unforgettable leading figure in British theatre," he said.
Dame Diana's other recent roles included the Duchess of Buccleuch in ITV's Victoria and Mrs Pumphrey in Channel 5's new adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small.
Samuel West, who plays Siegfried in the show, said: "Doesn't really make sense to think of her having died. She generally lived the hell out of everyone."
Last year, Dame Diana spoke of her delight at her role in Game of Thrones, telling the BBC: "I love playing bad [characters]. They are so much more interesting than good.
"There are some actors who don't like to play bad; they like to be liked. I love to be disliked. Olenna had the best lines."
In 1990, Dame Diana won a best actress Bafta TV award for playing a difficult mother-in-law in Mother Love. She also won a Bafta special award in 2000 for The Avengers, shared with the series' other stars Honor Blackman, Joanna Lumley and Linda Thorson.
Dame Diana was also nominated for nine primetime Emmy awards, winning for her role as Mrs Danvers in Rebecca in 1997.
- BBC / Reuters
