by Conan Simmons – September 10, 2020 – 5:19 pm
Popular Bond girl and star of classic television series ‘The Avengers’ has passed away today. Dame Diana Rigg was 82.
Born July 20, 1938 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England she gained prominence in the 1960’s playing super spy Emma Peel opposite Patrick Macnee as ‘The Avengers’. She would go on to become one of the most favorite Bond girls and the only one to become Mrs. Bond alongside George Lazenby’s turn in the 007 film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. In 1973 she starred with Vincent Price in the humorous horror film ‘Theater of Blood’.
Like many true actors her work spanned both the screen and the stage. Winning a coveted Tony award for playing the title role in 1994’s stage production ‘Medea’. In 1997 she won the Emmy for portraying Mrs. Danvers in a television mini-series adaptation of ‘Rebecca’. She continued to dominate the small screen by appearing in the hugely successful HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’.
Her achievements also included being awarded the CBE in 1988 for her services to drama as well as being appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1994.
A lifelong smoker Dame Diana Rigg was diagnosed with cancer. After battling the disease for many years she passed away this morning in London, England.
Never failing to light up whatever production she appeared in, fans will have another chance to see her in next year’s Edgar Wright directed ‘Last Night in Soho’ currently in post production.