Diana Rigg: Summary
- Recent Role:
- Herself on Loose Women
- Gender:
- Female
- Birthday:
- 7-20-1938
- Birthplace:
- Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.
- AKA:
- Dame Diana Rigg
Dame Diana Rigg is one of Britain's leading actresses. Although she will forever be remembered for her role as the iconic Mrs. Peel in the 1960's television series The Avengers her prolific work on the stage and television have brought her numerous awards, wide critical acclaim and firmly confirmed her cult status.
Rigg was born Enid Diana Elizabeth in Doncaster, South Yorkshire on July 20th 1938. However, at young age she moved to live in India where her father worked for the state railroad. She returned to Britain at the age of 8 to attend boarding school in Buckinghamshire and then went to Fulneck School in Yorkshire.
It is for her work in the theatre that has given her the ability to shine as an outstanding, intelligent performer. In 1955, Rigg was accepted by RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). Her professional debut was made in 1957 at the York Festival. After leaving RADA, she signed a 5 year contract with the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company). During her time there, she played a critically acclaimed Cordelia in a successful production of 'King Lear' directed by Peter Brook. She also played numerous contrasting Shakespearean female characters such as Helena in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and Lady Macbeth. She first performed the Greek tragedy 'Medea' in 1992. When the play went to Broadway in 1994, it resulted in a Tony Award. Rigg has toured Australia and New Zealand with the RSC and in 2004, she starred as Mrs. Venable in a production of Tennessee Williams' 'Suddenly Last Summer.'
The role of martial arts expert Emma Peel in 'The Avengers' between 1964-1968 brought international fame. However, it is by no means the only television work Rigg has done. In 1988 her role as the obsessive mother, Helena Vesey, in the BBC series 'Mother Love' was lauded by the critics. The 1997 ITV adaptation of Daphnie Du Maurier's novel 'Rebecca', where she played Mrs. Danvers, was equally successful. More recently, she has played the wry, sharp witted sleuth Adela Bradley in a BBC series based on the Gladys Mitchell's The Mrs Bradley Mysteries.
Rigg has appeared in numerous films. Soon after leaving 'The Avengers', she starred in 'On her Majesty's Secret Service' alongside George Lazenby in his one and only performance as James Bond. During the early 1980s she appeared in two adaptations of Agatha Christie novels. The first was as Arlena Stewart Marshall in 'Evil Under The Sun' with Sir Peter Ustinov and Dame Maggie Smith. The second was as the duplicitous Christine Vole in Christie's short story 'Witness for the Prosecution.' She also played Chloe Fanshawe in adaptation of William Boyd's humorous novel 'A Good Man in Africa. in 1994.
Rigg has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Israeli painter Menhem Gueffen in 1973. They were divorced in 1976. In 1982 Rigg married Scottish laird Archie Stirling. They had one daughter and were divorced in 1990.
Dame Diana Rigg is one of Britain's leading actresses. Although she will forever be remembered for her role as the iconic Mrs. Peel in the 1960's television series The Avengers her prolific work on the stage and television have brought her numerous awards, wide critical acclaim and firmly confirmed her cult status.
Rigg was born Enid Diana Elizabeth in Doncaster, South Yorkshire on July 20th 1938. However, at young age she moved to live in India where her father worked for the state railroad. She returned to Britain at the age of 8 to attend boarding school in Buckinghamshire and then went to Fulneck School in Yorkshire.
It is for her work in the theatre that has given her the ability to shine as an outstanding, intelligent performer. In 1955, Rigg was accepted by RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). Her professional debut was made in 1957 at the York Festival. After leaving RADA, she signed a 5 year contract with the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company). During her time there, she played a critically acclaimed Cordelia in a successful production of 'King Lear' directed by Peter Brook. She also played numerous contrasting Shakespearean female characters such as Helena in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and Lady Macbeth. She first performed the Greek tragedy 'Medea' in 1992. When the play went to Broadway in 1994, it resulted in a Tony Award. Rigg has toured Australia and New Zealand with the RSC and in 2004, she starred as Mrs. Venable in a production of Tennessee Williams' 'Suddenly Last Summer.'
The role of martial arts expert Emma Peel in 'The Avengers' between 1964-1968 brought international fame. However, it is by no means the only television work Rigg has done. In 1988 her role as the obsessive mother, Helena Vesey, in the BBC series 'Mother Love' was lauded by the critics. The 1997 ITV adaptation of Daphnie Du Maurier's novel 'Rebecca', where she played Mrs. Danvers, was equally successful. More recently, she has played the wry, sharp witted sleuth Adela Bradley in a BBC series based on the Gladys Mitchell's The Mrs Bradley Mysteries.
Rigg has appeared in numerous films. Soon after leaving 'The Avengers', she starred in 'On her Majesty's Secret Service' alongside George Lazenby in his one and only performance as James Bond. During the early 1980s she appeared in two adaptations of Agatha Christie novels. The first was as Arlena Stewart Marshall in 'Evil Under The Sun' with Sir Peter Ustinov and Dame Maggie Smith. The second was as the duplicitous Christine Vole in Christie's short story 'Witness for the Prosecution.' She also played Chloe Fanshawe in adaptation of William Boyd's humorous novel 'A Good Man in Africa. in 1994.
Rigg has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Israeli painter Menhem Gueffen in 1973. They were divorced in 1976. In 1982 Rigg married Scottish laird Archie Stirling. They had one daughter and were divorced in 1990.
Dame Diana Rigg is one of Britain's leading actresses. Although she will forever be remembered for her role as the iconic Mrs. Peel in the 1960's television series The Avengers her prolific work on the stage and television have brought her numerous awards, wide critical acclaim and firmly confirmed her cult status.
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