Diana Rigg

Biography

Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg DBE (20 July 1938 - 10 September 2020) was a celebrated English actress renowned for her remarkable versatility across television, film, and theatre. She gained widespread fame for her iconic portrayal of Emma Peel in the classic television series The Avengers, which aired from 1965 to 1968. Later, she captivated audiences as Olenna Tyrell in the acclaimed series Game of Thrones from 2013 to 2017.

Rigg's theatrical prowess was showcased in her acclaimed performance as Medea, both in London and New York, earning her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1994. Her contributions to the arts were recognized with her appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1988 and her subsequent elevation to Dame in 1994.

She began her professional journey in 1957 with The Caucasian Chalk Circle and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959. Rigg made her Broadway debut in 1971 with Abelard & Heloise. Her notable film roles included Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968), Countess Teresa di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), and appearances in The Great Muppet Caper (1981) and Evil Under the Sun (1982). Rigg also earned a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for the miniseries Mother Love (1989) and an Emmy Award for her role in Rebecca (1997). Her later television work included You, Me and the Apocalypse (2015) and Detectorists (2015), as well as a memorable guest appearance in Doctor Who alongside her daughter, Rachael Stirling, in the episode "The Crimson Horror" (2013).