The character of Emma Peel in the television series The Avengers remains a defining point in Diana Rigg's career, propelling her to prominence between 1965 and 1968. Beyond this role, she built a substantial portfolio spanning decades, moving between the intense demands of stage productions in London and New York and significant appearances in film and television.
Formative Years
Born in Doncaster in 1938, Diana Rigg spent early childhood years in Bikaner, Rajasthan, where her father worked for the railway. Returning to England, she attended Fulneck Girls School before completing training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art between 1955 and 1957. Her professional debut occurred at the 1957 York Festival in a production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle.
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Rigg joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959, performing roles including Cordelia in King Lear. Her transition to screen acting included the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, where she portrayed Countess Teresa di Vicenzo. Later television contributions included the BBC miniseries Mother Love, for which she earned a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 1990, and the role of Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones from 2013 to 2017.
Awards and Recognition
Her theatrical accomplishments were acknowledged with a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1994 for her performance in Medea. In television, she secured a Primetime Emmy Award in 1997 for her role as Mrs. Danvers in the miniseries Rebecca. Her contributions to drama were formally recognized when she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1988, followed by a promotion to Dame Commander in 1994.
Final Projects
Rigg remained active in her final years, appearing in the 2020 series All Creatures Great and Small. Her final professional credit was in the 2021 psychological horror film Last Night in Soho, a role she finished shortly before her death in London in 2020.
Fast facts
- Born: 1938, Doncaster
- Died: 2020, London
- Education: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
- Tony Award: 1994, Best Actress in a Play
- Emmy Award: 1997, Rebecca
- Appointed CBE: 1988
- Appointed Dame: 1994
Questions readers ask
What was Diana Rigg's final film role?
Her final role was in the film Last Night in Soho, released in 2021.
Did Rigg win awards for her stage work?
Yes, she won the 1994 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in Medea.
Achievements
- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire — 1994
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play — 1994
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire — 1988
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie — 1997
- Worked as television actor, film actor and university teacher
