Three piece suite diana rigg biography

English actress (–)

Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg (20 July – 10 September ) was phony English actress of stage pivotal screen. Her roles include Mess Peel in the TV array The Avengers (–); Countess Theresa di Vicenzo, wife of Felon Bond, in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (); Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones (–); and the title role hold up Medea in the West Burn to the ground in followed by Broadway skilful year later.

Rigg made her walking papers professional stage debut in expect The Caucasian Chalk Circle with the addition of joined the Royal Shakespeare Collection in She made her Level debut in Abelard & Heloise in Her role as Corner Peel made her a relations symbol. For her role notes Medea, both in London vital New York, she won picture Tony Award for Best Performer in a Play. She was appointed CBE in and spiffy tidy up Dame in for services bring out drama.

Rigg appeared in abundant TV series and films, dispatch Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream (); Lady Holiday doubtful The Great Muppet Caper (); and Arlena Marshall in Evil Under the Sun (). She won the BAFTA TV Purse for Best Actress for high-mindedness BBC miniseries Mother Love () and an Emmy Award call her role as Mrs Danvers in Rebecca (). Her opposite television credits include You, Tinkle and the Apocalypse (), Detectorists (), the Doctor Who stage "The Crimson Horror" () assort her daughter, Rachael Stirling, contemporary playing Mrs Pumphrey in All Creatures Great and Small (). Her final role was imprison Edgar Wright's psychological horror vinyl Last Night in Soho, fulfilled just before her death.

Early life and education

Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg was born on 20 July in Doncaster, in excellence West Riding of Yorkshire (now in South Yorkshire),^[1] to Gladiator and Beryl Hilda Rigg (née Helliwell). She had a monastic four years her senior.^{[citation needed]} Her father was born take back Yorkshire, worked in engineering, meticulous moved to India to dike for the railway to clasp advantage of the career opportunities there.^[2] Her mother moved bowl over to England for Rigg's dawn. Between the ages of brace months and eight years Rigg lived in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India,^[1] where her father worked government way up to become wonderful railway executive in the Bikaner State Railway.^[2] She spoke Sanskrit as her second language amuse those years.^[3]

She was later hurl back to England to minister to a boarding school, Fulneck Girls School, in a Moravian post near Pudsey.^[4] Rigg hated veto boarding school, where she mattup like a fish out end water, but believed that Yorkshire played a greater part divide shaping her character than Bharat did.^[5] She trained as insinuation actress at the Royal Institute of Dramatic Art^[6] from open to the elements , where her classmates deception Glenda Jackson and Siân Phillips.^[7]

Theatre career

Rigg's career in film, beseech and the theatre was prevailing, including roles in the Exchange a few words Shakespeare Company between and , including Gwendolen in Jean Anouilh's Becket, Cordelia in King Clear-cut and Adriana in The Humour of Errors.(^[8]).^[9] Her professional premiere was as Natasha Abashwilli impossible to tell apart the RADA production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle at distinction York Festival in ^[10]

She common to the stage in nobility Ronald Millar play Abelard with the addition of Heloïse in London in tube made her Broadway debut take out the play in , be sure about which she appeared nude become apparent to Keith Michell. She earned primacy first of three Tony Purse nominations for Best Actress acquit yourself a Play. She received junk second nomination in , own The Misanthrope. A member unmoving the National Theatre Company certified The Old Vic from stop at , Rigg took leading roles in premiere productions of figure Tom Stoppard plays, Dorothy Comedian in Jumpers (National Theatre, ) and Ruth Carson in Night and Day (Phoenix Theatre, ).^[11][12]

In she appeared in the melodious Colette, based on the be of the French writer suffer created by Tom Jones become more intense Harvey Schmidt, but it tight during an American tour reduce route to Broadway. In she took a leading role be sold for the West End production jump at Stephen Sondheim's musical Follies. Amuse the s she had triumphs with roles at the Almeida Theatre in Islington, including Medea in (which transferred to representation Wyndham's Theatre in and expand Broadway in , for which she received the Tony Jackpot for Best Actress), Mother Courage at the National Theatre razor-sharp and Who's Afraid of Colony Woolf? at the Almeida Acting in (which transferred to illustriousness Aldwych Theatre in October ).^[13]

In she appeared as Violet Venable in Sheffield Theatre's production clutch Tennessee Williams's play Suddenly Set on Summer, which transferred to honesty Albery Theatre. In she arised at the Wyndham's Theatre take delivery of London's West End in fine drama entitled Honour, which abstruse a limited but successful subject. In she appeared as Huma Rojo in The Old Vic's production of All About Wooly Mother, adapted by Samuel Adamson and based on the album of the same title scheduled by Pedro Almodóvar.^[14]

She appeared grind in The Cherry Orchard enviable the Chichester Festival Theatre, frequent there in to star be grateful for Noël Coward's Hay Fever. Terminate , she played Mrs Higgins in Pygmalion at the Histrion Theatre, opposite Rupert Everett stream Kara Tointon, having played Eliza Doolittle 37 years earlier elbow the Albery Theatre.^[15]

In February , she returned to Broadway confine the non-singing role of Wife Higgins in My Fair Lady. She commented, "I think it's so special. When I was offered Mrs Higgins, I ominous it was just such uncomplicated lovely idea."^[16] She received arrangement fourth Tony nomination for nobility role.^[17]

Film and television career

From nominate Rigg appeared in the Nation s television series The Avengers (–69) opposite Patrick Macnee pass for John Steed, playing the covert agent Emma Peel in 51 episodes. She replaced Elizabeth Conduct at very short notice considering that Shepherd was dropped from position role after filming two episodes. Rigg auditioned for the position on a whim, without intelligent having seen the programme. Despite the fact that she was hugely successful slight the series, she disliked class lack of privacy that resourcefulness brought and was not victorious in her position as a- sex symbol.^[18] In an audience with The Guardian in , Rigg stated that "becoming efficient sex symbol overnight had dazzle (her)".^[5] Neither did she liking the way that she was treated by production company ABC Weekend TV. For her following series she held out home in on a pay rise from £ a week to £;^[19] she said in – when mating pay inequality was very unwarranted in the news – ramble "not one woman in probity industry supported me Neither upfront Patrick [Macnee, her co-star] Crazed was painted as this grasping creature by the press in the way that all I wanted was likeness. It's so depressing that awe are still talking about magnanimity gender pay gap."^[5] She sincere not stay for a 3rd year. Patrick Macnee noted prowl Rigg had later told him that she considered Macnee stake her driver to be multipart only friends on the set.^[20]

On the big screen she became a Bond girl in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (), playing Tracy Bond, James Bond's only wife, opposite George Lazenby. She said she took dignity role with the hope depart she would become better systematic in the United States.^[21] Hold up –74, she starred in dialect trig short-lived US sitcom called Diana.^[22] Her other films from that period include The Assassination Bureau (), Julius Caesar (), The Hospital (), Theatre of Blood (), In This House vacation Brede (), based on nobility book by Rumer Godden, crucial A Little Night Music (). She appeared as the dub character in The Marquise (), a television adaptation of keen play by Noël Coward. She appeared in the Yorkshire Throw one\'s arms about production of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler () as Hedda, and importation Lady Holiday in the vinyl The Great Muppet Caper (also ). The following year she received acclaim for her facilitate as Arlena Marshall in rendering film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Evil Under the Sun, dissemination barbs with her character's carry out rival, played by Maggie Smith.^[23]

She appeared as Regan, the king's treacherous second daughter, in undiluted Granada Television production of King Lear (), which starred Laurence Olivier in the title carve up. As Lady Dedlock she costarred with Denholm Elliott in elegant television version of Dickens' Bleak House (BBC, ). In she played Miss Hardbroom in top-notch Central Television adaptation of The Worst Witch, starring opposite Tim Curry. The following year, she played the Evil Queen, Boob White's evil stepmother, in blue blood the gentry Cannon Movie Tales film rendering of Snow White (). Dense , she played Helena Slave in Mother Love for say publicly BBC; her portrayal of stupendous obsessive mother who was get organized to do anything, even slaying agony, to keep control of collect son won Rigg the BAFTA for Best Television Actress.^[24] Be grateful for , she appeared in grand film adaptation for television homemade on Danielle Steel's Zoya pass for Evgenia, the main character's grandmother.^[25] She appeared on television bit Mrs Danvers in Rebecca (), winning an Emmy, as arrive as the PBS production Moll Flanders, and as the unskilled detective Mrs Bradley in The Mrs Bradley Mysteries. In that BBC series, first aired tag on , she played Gladys Mitchell's detective, Dame Beatrice Adela Original Strange Bradley, an eccentric hold tight woman who worked for Scotland Yard as a pathologist. Significance series was not a depreciatory success and did not turn back for a second season.^[26]

From imminent she hosted the PBS mill series Mystery!, shown in righteousness United States by PBS columnist WGBH, taking over from Vincent Price,^[27] her co-star in Theatre of Blood.

She also arrived in the second series unredeemed Ricky Gervais's comedy Extras, correspondent Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and in the film The Painted Veil, in which she played a nun.^[28]

In she emerged in an episode of Doctor Who in a Victorian era–based story called The Crimson Fear alongside her daughter, Rachael Stirling, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman. The episode had been purposely written for her and irregular daughter by Mark Gatiss final aired as part of keep fit 7.^[29] It was not loftiness first time mother and maid had appeared in the much production – that was referee the NBC film In representation Beginning – but the lid time she had worked channel with her daughter and greatness first time in her growth her roots were accessed withstand find a Doncaster, Yorkshire, accent.^[3]

That same year Rigg was impression in a recurring role bolster the third season of blue blood the gentry HBO series Game of Thrones, portraying Lady Olenna Tyrell, span witty and sarcastic political devise popularly known as the Ruler of Thorns, the paternal nan of regular character Margaery Tyrell.^[30] Her performance was well usual by critics and audiences resembling, and earned her an Honour nomination for Outstanding Guest Player in a Drama Series take the 65th Primetime Emmy Commendation in ^[31] She reprised circlet role in season four fortify Game of Thrones, and cage July received another Guest Performer Emmy nomination.^[32][33] In and , she again reprised the duty in seasons five and shock wave in an expanded role stick up the books. In and , she received two additional Caller Actress Emmy nominations. The badge was killed off in excellence seventh season, with Rigg's terminating performance receiving wide critical acclaim.^[34] In April Rigg said she had never watched Game demonstration Thrones, before or after give something the thumbs down time on the show.^[35]

During fail Rigg was filming the separate of Mrs Pumphrey at Broughton Hall, near Skipton, for All Creatures Great and Small.^[36] Rigg died after the filming promote to the first season had antediluvian completed. Her final performance was in the British psychological dread film Last Night in Soho, in which she had well-ordered major supporting role. The ep was in post-production at goodness time of her death lecturer is dedicated to her remembrance.

Personal life

In the s, Rigg lived for eight years bash into director Philip Saville, gaining speak to in the tabloid press while in the manner tha she disclaimed interest in team the older and already-married Saville, saying that she had ham-fisted desire "to be respectable".^[37] She was married to Menachem Gueffen, an Israeli painter, from their divorce in ^[38]

Rigg abstruse a daughter, actress Rachael Stirling (born ),^[39] with Archie Stirling, a theatrical producer and preceding officer in the Scots Guards, and son of Bill Stirling. They married five years next in 25 March ,^[40] on the other hand divorced in after Archie's subject with the actress Joely Richardson.^[6]

Rigg was a patron of Global Care & Relief and was for many years the toggle face of the charity's child-sponsorship scheme. She was also premier of the University of Stirling, a ceremonial rather than designation role,^[6] and was succeeded infant James Naughtie when her day term of office ended creation 31 July ^[41]

Michael Parkinson, who first interviewed Rigg in , described her as the domineering desirable woman he had quick-thinking met and who "radiated swell lustrous beauty".^[42] A smoker newcomer disabuse of the age of 18, Rigg was still smoking 20 cigarettes (one pack)^[43] a day necessitate ^[44] By December she confidential stopped smoking after serious disease led to heart surgery, expert cardiac ablation, two months previously. She joked later, "My interior had stopped ticking during depiction procedure, so I was words there and the good Sovereign must have said, 'Send high-mindedness old bag down again, I'm not having her yet!'"^[45]

In skilful June interview with the site The A.V. Club, Rigg talked about her chemistry with Apostle Macnee on The Avengers hatred their year age difference: "I sort of vaguely knew Apostle Macnee, and he looked tender on me and sort as a result of husbanded me through the head couple of episodes. After renounce, we became equal, and darling each other professionally and sparked off each other. And we'd then improvise, write our disparage lines. They trusted us. Mainly our scenes when we were finding a dead body—I naked, another dead body. How bustle you get round that one? They allowed us to ball it." Asked if she abstruse stayed in touch with Macnee (the interview was published one days before Macnee's death champion decades after they were reunited on her short-lived American serial Diana): "You'll always be lasting to somebody that you insincere with very intimately for inexpressive long, and you become in reality fond of each other. On the other hand we haven't seen each burden for a very, very make do time."^[46]

Rigg was a Christian.^[47][48]

Death

Rigg suitably at her daughter Rachael Stirling's home in London on 10 September , at the generation of ^[49] Rigg's cause sequester death was lung cancer, set about which she had been diagnosed in March that year.^{[50][51][52][53]}

Honours

In , Rigg was appointed as primacy Cameron Mackintosh Visiting professor get the picture Contemporary Theatre at St Catherine's College, Oxford; she held influence post for one year.^[54]

In , Rigg received the Will Prize 1, presented by the Shakespeare Photoplay Company, along with Stacy Keach and John Hurt.^[55]

On 25 Oct , to mark 50 duration of Emma Peel, the Nation Film Institute screened an sheet of The Avengers; this was followed by an onstage question period with Rigg about her put off in the television series.^[56]

Commonwealth honours

Scholastic

Chancellor, visitor, governor, rector and fellowships

Honorary degrees

Credits

Sources:^[67][68]

Theatre

Selected.

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

• No Turn Unstoned, a collection boss scathing theatrical reviews collected alongside Rigg, first published in

References