Diana Rigg, star of James Bond and Game of Thrones, has died aged 82.
“She died peacefully early this morning,” her agent said. “She was at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time.”
Rigg played Bond girl Countess Teresa di Vicenzo in the sixth 007 film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. She also appeared in the iconic Sixties series The Avengers as Emma Peel.
She trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company after graduating.
A few years later, in 1965, Rigg screen-tested for the part of John Steed’s female companion in The Avengers after Honor Blackman left to play Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. Her character Peel became a feminist icon.
Rigg won many awards throughout her career. In 1990, she received a Bafta for the role of an obsessive mother in the BBC drama Mother Love. She also won a Tony in 1994 for best actress in Medea.
She won an Emmy for her role as Mrs Danvers in a TV adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and gained an Emmy nomination for her role as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones.
RIP Diana Rigg, who has passed away aged 82. And now her watch has ended 😢 pic.twitter.com/GzHmF1SILV
— Jon Snow (@LordSnow) September 10, 2020
“Tell Cersei. I want her to know it was me.” pic.twitter.com/OZw4ySzgJ0
— Arya the Golden (@aryathegolden_) January 5, 2019
Freelanews is the editorial byline of Freelanews.com, used for staff reports, news updates, press releases, and collaborative stories produced by the Freelanews Editorial Team.
