Actress Dame Diana Rigg has passed away aged 82. Famous for her roles in TV series The Avengers and Game of Thrones, Dame Diana passed away from cancer, which was diagnosed back in March 2020.
"My Beloved Ma died peacefully in her sleep early this morning, at home, surrounded by family," said her daughter, Racheal Stirling.
"She died of cancer diagnosed in March, and 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."
Last year Yours spoke to Racheal about her mum, and the acting legacy that she's taken upon her shoulders.
“It’s a glorious fact that I am her daughter. She’s a real inspiration to me and I couldn’t be prouder of her – but not only as an actress. She’s also a great mum and wonderful granny to my two-year-old son, Jack."
With a myriad of roles to her name, Dame Diana Rigg's acting talent was truly inspirational.
She first found fame as cat-suited sex symbol of the 1960's, Emma Peel in the Avengers.
Dame Diana can also claim the title as the only Bond girl to get 007 down the aisle.
She played Tracy, who married George Lazenby's 007 in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
On top of her TV and film successes, the Yorkshire-born actress remained dedicated to the theatre, appearing in classical and contemporary plays in both England and the US.
Racheal and her mum often used to discuss their upcoming roles over dinner, and sound out jobs. "I remember some years ago she said to me, 'I've been offered this thing called Er. Should I do it?'
"'That's ER Muma,' I told her. 'You should definitely do it!"
She also got the chance to work alongside her daugher – in 2013, she appeared in a Doctor Who episode, The Crimson Horror, which was specially written for her by Mark Gatiss.
Some of her more recent work also included bringing to life Olenna Tyrell, 'Queen of Thorns' from the popular book and HBO series Game of Thrones.
Dame Diana continued working until shortly before her death, appearing in the new remake of All Creatures Great And Small.
In 1990, she won a Bafta for the role of an obsessive mother in the BBC drama Mother Love. Four years later she won a Tony for best actress in one of her most acclaimed roles, that of Medea.
In 1994 she was also made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).
Dame Diana was married twice, first to Israeli artist Menachem Gueffen, from 1973 to 1976, and then to Archie Stirling.
The couple divorced in 1990 after Archie's affair with actress Joely Richardson.
Although it was the role of Emma Peel that brought her to public attention, Dame Diana's distinguished career as a classical actress speaks for itself.
She never felt the need to return to the cat suit, but she certainly didn't shed the sharp-witted, tough and stylish persona that she added to every one of her characters.