Diana Rigg, known for roles in The Avengers and Game of Thrones, dies at 82



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British actress Dame Diana Rigg, best known for roles including Emma Peel in television series The Avengers and Olenna Tyrell in game of Thrones, has passed away at the age of 82.

Diana Rigg speaks as she receives the Icon Award during the opening ceremony of the second annual Cannes International Series Festival (Canneseries) on April 5, 2019, at the Palais des Festival de Cannes, southern France.

Diana Rigg speaks as she receives the Icon Award during the opening ceremony of the second annual Cannes International Series Festival (Canneseries) on April 5, 2019, at the Palais des Festival de Cannes, southern France.
Photo: AFP

His daughter, actress Rachael Stirling, said she died of cancer after being diagnosed in March.

“My beloved mom died peacefully in her sleep this morning, at home, surrounded by family,” Stirling said in a statement.

“She died of diagnosed cancer in March and spent her final months reflecting with joy on her extraordinary life, filled with love, laughter and deep pride in her profession. I will miss her beyond words.”

Rigg, born in Doncaster in the north of England, moved with her family to India before going to school in England. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before debuting with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959.

It was her role as leather-clad, karate-kicking undercover agent Emma Peel in The AvengersAlong with Patrick McNee’s bowler-hat John Steed, that caught her eye.

He then starred in the 1969 James Bond movie. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in which his character marries George Lazenby’s 007.

Lazenby said she was “very saddened” to learn of her death, while Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli also paid tribute.

The return to the theater resulted in a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s. His four Tony Award nominations resulted in a victory for his fiery performance in the title role in the 1994 play Medea.

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

the game of Thrones the official account honored her.

Others who paid tribute included Sir Tom Stoppard, who recalled his “luminous” talent. “

Also playwright Sir David Hare said the actress had a dazzling turnaround in middle age as a great classical actor. “When Emma Peel played Euripides’ Medea, Albee’s Martha and Brecht’s Mother Courage, she blew it all away,” he said.

Diana Rigg, famous for roles as Emma Peel on the television series The Avengers and Olenna Tyrell on Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 82.

Diana Rigg.
Photo: AFP / ABC Weekend Television / Associa / Christophel Collection

game of Thrones Star Nikolaj Coster Waldau, who played Jaime Lannister, said the actress “always raised the bar with his incredible talent, intelligence and wit. He is a pleasure and an honor to work with.”

Sherlock Writer and actor Mark Gatiss fondly remembers working with her, while Stephen Merchant remembers her in a scene on his show. Additional features.

Actor David Suchet, who starred opposite Dame Diana in the 1996 West End production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?she told BBC Radio 4’s PM program that 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. It started as she continued, with 100 guns firing and she was extremely powerful. I remember she had fierce intelligence and extraordinary strength of passion as well.”

Vanessa Redgrave said she was a “wonderful, wonderful actress,” while Mia Farrow tweeted: “She was gorgeous! Thanks to the great Diana Rigg for so many intrepid and fascinating performances. But we wanted more.”

Baby driver Director Edgar Wright said it was “beyond exciting to work with her on her latest movie,” the upcoming Soho Last Night.

“She exceeded all of my highest expectations, so incredibly talented, hot and funny. I miss you already, Give me D.”

Director Jonathan Kent added that her “combination of strength of personality, beauty, courage and sheer emotional power made her a great classical actress, one of an astonishing generation of British performing artists.”

“Her dazzling wit and inimitable voice made her an unforgettable leading figure in British theater,” he said.

Dame Diana’s other recent roles included the Duchess of Buccleuch on ITV’s Victoria and Mrs. Pumphrey in the new Channel 5 adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small.

Samuel West, who plays Siegfried on the show, said: “It really doesn’t make sense to think that she has died. Overall, she lived like everyone’s hell.”

Last year, Dame Diana spoke of her joy at her role in game of Thrones, telling the BBC: “I love to play bad [characters]. They are much more interesting than good.

“There are some actors who don’t like to play badly; they like to be liked. I love that I don’t like them. Olenna had the best lines.”

In 1990, Dame Diana won a Bafta TV Award for Best Actress for playing a difficult mother-in-law in Mother’s Love. She also won a special Bafta award in 2000 for The Avengers, shared with the other stars of the Honor Blackman series, 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



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