Verteran Hollywood actress, Dame Diana Rigg, best known for her roles in Emma Peel in TV series The Avengers and Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, passed away at the age of 82.
“It is with tremendous sadness that we announce that Dame Diana Rigg died peacefully early this morning,” her agent Simon Beresford said in a statement. “She was at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time.”
Her daughter Rachael Stirling said that her mother was diagnosed with cancer in March and died peacefully in her sleep. She said her mother “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,” Stirling added.
Her Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie took to Insta to pay respect to the last soul. gwendolineuniverse’s profile picture. “Dame Diana Rigg 20.07.38 – 10.09.20 Fabulous soul. Brilliant actor. Sensational mind. “What an honour it was to work with you; you showed such generosity and incredible razor-sharp wit – a hilarious, iconic master class on How To Do It. Tolerated no nonsense and delivered every time. We were so lucky to have you! Inspiration forever!” she wrote.
“Be a dragon. The realm will always remember Diana Rigg,” The Game of Thrones official acccount also honoured her.
Rigg won an Emmy award in 1997 for her performance as Mrs Danvers in “Rebecca” and a Tony award for playing the title character in “Medea”. She also played a Bond girl in 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.”
Dame Diana’s other recent roles included the Duchess of Buccleuch in ITV’s Victoria and Mrs Pumphrey in Channel 5’s new adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small. She will be seen in the BBC drama Black Narcissus later this year, and Edgar Wright’s film Last Night in Soho next year which will be her final role.