British actress Diana Rigg, who portrayed spy Emma Peel and murderer Medea, dies aged 82

[webfact]

British actress Diana Rigg, who portrayed spy Emma Peel and murderer Medea, dies aged 82

 

FILE PHOTO: The cast members of one of Britain's most popular TV series in the 1960s "The Avengers" (L-R) Diana Rigg, Patrick MacNee, Linda Thorson and Honor Blackman are reunited for the first time October 26. They were attending a party celebrating the release of "The Avengers" home video -/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British actress Diana Rigg, who came to fame in the cult 1960s TV show "The Avengers" and enjoyed a distinguished and varied career on stage and screen from James Bond to "Game of Thrones", died on Thursday aged 82.

 

Rigg won numerous Emmy, Tony and Bafta awards during her long and prestigious career, equally at home in classical theatre roles as those in popular TV shows.

 

"My Beloved Ma died peacefully in her sleep early this morning, at home, surrounded by family," her actress daughter Rachael 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."

 

FILE PHOTO: Diana Rigg gives the thumbs up sign as she holds her Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play in New York City, U.S., June 12, 1994. REUTERS/Mark Cardwell/File Photo

 

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 James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" in which her character marries the British spy. A return to the theatre resulted in a string of hits in the 1970s and 80s, and she was acclaimed for her role as Medea in the early 1990s for which she won a Tony.

 

Recently, she is best known for playing Olenna Tyrell in "Game of Thrones".

 

"For half her life Diana was the most beautiful woman in the room, but she was what used to be called a Trouper. She went to work with her sleeves rolled up and a smile for everyone. Her talent was luminous," British playwright Tom Stoppard said in a statement.

 

(Reporting by Michael Holden, editing by Estelle Shirbon and Angus MacSwan)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-11

 

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[webfact]

 

 

[Justgrazing]

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

"The Avengers",

Superb opening musical score to the Av's .. must watch TV back in the day was this series .. 

 

[PatOngo]

So long Emma Peel.

[Patong2]

A class act

Stunningly beautiful with poise & elegance

[azaazo9]

Great actrees, she will be missed!

[rumak]

that brings back memories.    Avengers was a hit even in US ,   and Emma was a cutie

[sammieuk1]

She made things stir in my young days in that black rubber suit ????Rip

[Jack Mountain]

Thanks. RIP.

[faraday]

As Sammie says above; that black rubber suit, her perfect hair,....slurp!

 

Loved The Avengers, RIP Emma.

 

She portrayed her sexiness without - as they all seem to now, showing everything. 

 

 

[Lacessit]

Even though she was no longer a beauty, her performance as Olenna Tyrell in GOT was great. RIP.

[jesimps]

RIP the lovely Diana. The Avengers was was a great series from the pre-PC days. Where's Purdy in that photo, the gorgeous Joanna Lumley?

[Daffy D]

Saw her just last night in the current series "All Creatures Great And Small".

 

That was only made this year so she must have been working to the very end.

 

Lovely lady 

 

[newnative]

Sad news.  One of my very favorite actresses.

[nausea]

5 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

She made things stir in my young days in that black rubber suit ????Rip

Indeed. A serious actress, I know, but much as Lara Croft was for later generations, the Emma Peel action hero character was the subject of many of my pimply adolescent fantasies; thanks for that Diana, and RIP. We often say RIP in a formulaic way, in this case I really mean it.

[Nout]

4 hours ago, faraday said:

As Sammie says above; that black rubber suit, her perfect hair,....slurp!

 

Loved The Avengers, RIP Emma.

 

She portrayed her sexiness without - as they all seem to now, showing everything. 

 

 

Yep. The file photo is an outrage. Diana Rigg fuelled my masturbatory fantasies as a teen in the 1960s.

[rumak]

3 hours ago, Nout said:

Yep. The file photo is an outrage. Diana Rigg fuelled my masturbatory fantasies as a teen in the 1960s.

too much information

[alyx]

Here goes my childhood ????

[PatOngo]

11 hours ago, rumak said:

that brings back memories.    Avengers was a hit even in US ,   and Emma was a cutie

Every boy in school fancied Emma Peel. ????

[Crossy]

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Every boy in school fancied Emma Peel. ????

 

So did his dad ...

 

[thaibeachlovers]

RIP

Diana was a real "strong" woman. Had more femininity in her little finger than all those waste of space "strong" modern actresses have combined.