Entertainment News1 min(s) read
Published 14:51 10 Sep 2020 GMT
The legendary actress Dame Diana Rigg has died at the age of 82, her family has confirmed.
Per BBC News, in a statement released on Thursday (September 10), her agent addressed her fans, saying:
"She died peacefully early this morning.
"She was at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time."
Rigg is best known by modern audiences for her role as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, but also became a household name for her role in TV series The Avengers and the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
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Following the sad news of her death, tributes have been pouring in on social media. Actor and writer Mark Gatiss wrote, "It was my great joy and privilege to have known Diana Rigg. From three slightly hysterical months at the Old Vic in ‘All About Mother’ to writing The Crimson Horror for Diana and her wonderful daughter Rachael. Flinty, fearless, fabulous. There will never be another. RIP"
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BAFTA wrote on Twitter, "We're sad to hear of the passing of Dame Diana Rigg, BAFTA-winner for her performance in Mother Love in 1990 and joint recipient of the BAFTA Television Special Award in 2000 for The Avengers."
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Director Edgar Wright posted the following message to Twitter:
"What to say about Diana Rigg? I could talk about her incredible career, but for now I'll just say as a lifelong fan, it was beyond a thrill to work with her on her final film. She exceeded all my highest expectations, so blazingly talented, fiery & funny. Miss you already Dame D."
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Game of Thrones co-star John Bradley added, "Diana Rigg was just wonderful. But you all knew that already. Everybody did. Very sad news. #dianarigg"
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The Almeida Theatre wrote, "We are sad to hear of the passing of Dame Diana Rigg. We were honoured to have had Diana perform at the Almeida. Most notably, in her Olivier and Tony award-winning performance of Medea which opened at the Almeida in 1992, before transferring to the West End and Broadway."
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Last year, Rigg revealed to the BBC about how much she adored her role as the sharp-tongued Tyrell in the hit HBO show Game of Thrones, saying:
"I love playing bad [characters]. They are so much more interesting than good.
"There are some actors who don't like to play bad; they like to be liked. I love to be disliked. Olenna had the best lines."
Over her prolific career, Rigg became a nine-time Emmy-nominated actress - winning only once for her role as Mrs Danvers in Rebecca in 1997. She also won a prestigious Tony Award for Best Actress for her stage role as Medea in the play of the same name.
Our thoughts are with Dame Diana Rigg's family, friends, and fans.
