Diana Rigg: Life Story and Glamorous Photos of the Only Woman who became Mrs. James Bond

Diana Rigg was a legendary stage and screen actress known for her superb performance in numerous movies and TV series. She gained worldwide fame for her portrayal of Emma Peel in the television series ‘The Avengers’. She also served as a Chancellor at the University of Stirling in Stirling from 1998 to 2008.

Theater Career

Rigg made her stage debut in 1957 in the York Festival’s production of Bertolt Brecht’s ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’. She made her first London stage appearance after four years. During that time, she also worked as a fashion model and appeared and performed supporting roles in the TV series ‘The Sentimental Agent’. She earned her first three Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in ‘Abelard and Heloïse’, ‘ The Misanthrope’, and ‘Night and Day’. She received her fourth Tony nomination in February 2018.

Film and Television career

Rigg appeared in the British espionage TV series ‘The Avengers from 1965 to 1968. She portrayed the role of secret agent ‘Emma Peel’ in 51 episodes. Rigg made her Hollywood debut in 1968 with the role of Helena in the movie ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. She also performed the role of James Bond’s wife ‘Tracy Bond’ in the movie ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service ‘. She was the only woman who became Mrs. James Bond. Rigg performed in more than 15 movies throughout the career, her last movie was ‘Breathe (2017)’. And she won several awards and nominations for her outstanding performance.

Diana Rigg’s marriages

Diana Rigg married, Israeli painter Menachem Geffen, in 1973. The marriage lasted only for three years and ended with a divorce. Her second marriage was toa theatrical producer and former officer, Archibald Stirling from 1982 to 1990. She had a daughter from Stirling, actress Rachael Stirling, who was born five years before their marriage.

Dianna Rigg’s death

Diana Rigg died on 10 September 2020, from cancer. Her daughter, Rachael Stirling, said that the cause of death was cancer which had been diagnosed in March.

Here below are some beautiful photos of young Diana Rigg from her early career and life.

#1 Diana Rigg on the Lotus stand at the London Motor Show at Earls Court, London in October 1965.

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#2 Diana Rigg on the Lotus stand at the London Motor Show at Earls Court, London in October 1965.

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#3 Diana Rigg at her parents home in Roundhay, Leeds, 19th April 1965.

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#4 Diana Rigg in Roundhay, Leeds, 1965.

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#5 Diana Rigg tied to the rail of a train filming a scene of television series ‘The Avengers’, 4th April 1965.

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#6 Diana Rigg in a blue tracksuit with green trim, 1964.

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#7 Diana Rigg trying out a car at The Motor Show, 1965.

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#8 Diana Rigg at the Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street, 14th December 1964.

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#9 Diana Rigg with Patrick Macnee, 1964.

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#10 Diana Rigg in her role of Emma Peel in the televison series The Avengers, 1964.

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#11 Diana Rigg pictured holding a telephone receiver in a scene from the television drama ‘The Hot House’ in 1964.

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#12 Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee on the set of the TV Series The Avengers, 1965.

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#13 Diana Rigg, 1965.

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#14 Diana Rigg wearing wool trouser suit called ‘Blackboard’, designed by John Bates for her role in television series ‘The Avengers’, 11th October 1965.

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#15 Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee sitting on a table, 1965.

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#16 Diana Rigg at a rugby league match between Leeds and Oldham at Headingley, 1965.

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#17 Diana Rigg modelling her outfit for her appearance on ‘The Eamonn Andrews Show’, UK, 3rd December 1965.

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#18 Diana Rigg at Hamburg, Germany circa 1966.

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#19 Diana Rigg holding a dog, 1966

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#20 Diana Rigg with actor David Warner and director Peter Hall, 1966.

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#21 Diana Rigg dressed as Robin Hood for an episode of The Avengers ABC TV Series, titled ‘A Sense of History’, Photo-call on set, 15th February 1966.

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#22 Diana Rigg, 15th February 1966.

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#23 Diana Rigg with Patrick Macnee, stars of ‘The Avengers’, 12th March 1966.

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#24 Diana Rigg trying John Thaw’s hat on in Hanover Square, London, 1966.

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#25 Diana Rigg by the river at Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, 2nd May 1966.

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#26 Diana Rigg with with director Clifford Williams at the river, 1966.

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#27 Diana Rigg as Emma Peel and Patrick Macnee as John Steed on the set of the television series ‘The Avengers’ in September 1966.

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#28 Diana Rigg posed on a vintage car on location during filming of the television series ‘The Avengers’ at Beaulieu, Hampshire in September 1966.

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#29 Diana Rigg at Beaulieu in Hampshire in September 1966.

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#30 Diana Rigg wearing a violet-coloured catsuit with cut-away hips, 1966.

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#31 Diana Rigg fights off a villain in a scene from the television series “The Avengers”, 1967.

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#32 Diana Rigg as in a vintage car on the set of the television series ‘The Avengers’ in 1967.

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#33 Diana Rigg with Oliver Reed at the Hilton Hotel in London, November 8th 1967.

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#34 Diana Rigg, 1960s.

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#35 Diana Rigg with a white horse on Camber Sands, 1967.

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#36 Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee during the filming of the television series ‘The Avengers’ in 1967.

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#37 Diana Rigg riding a horse, 1967.

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#38 Diana Rigg trying out a new cook’n dining room ‘ in the electric pavilion at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition, 1967.

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#39 Diana Rigg in a replica of the bathroom at her St Johns Wood flat, 1967.

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#40 Diana Rigg in a mini-skirt, June 1967.

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#41 Diana Rigg during the filming of A Midsummer Nights Dream William Shakespeare in the woods, October 1967

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#42 Diana Rigg taking a break during the production of William Shakespeare’s play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, 1967.

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#43 Diana Rigg with David Warner in the grounds of Compton Verney, on location filming ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’, 1967.

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#44 Diana Rigg with Oliver Reed at a London Hilton Hotel press reception for their latest film, ‘The Assassination Bureau”, 1967.

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#45 Diana Rigg posing in costume for her role as Emma Peel, 1968.

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#46 Diana Rigg at the Mermaid Theatre in London, 1968.

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#47 Diana Rigg crouches behind a chair whilst holding a gun in 1968.

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#48 Diana Rigg, 8th November 1967

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#49 Diana Rigg as ‘Emma Peel’ is tied to a railway track as a miniature train advances on her in a scene from the television series ‘The Avengers’ in 1968.

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#50 Diana Rigg from the television series ‘The Avengers’ in 1968

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#51 Diana Rigg in Dusseldorf, 1968.

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#52 Diana Rigg, 1968.

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#53 Diana Rigg with two karate fighters, 1968.

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#54 Diana Rigg at the First Night of Film June 1968

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#55 Diana Rigg in Zürich, 1968.

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#56 Diana Rigg and George Lazenby in a scene from ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’, 1969.

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#57 Diana Rigg wearing a lace outfit in a promotional portrait for ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’, 1969.

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#58 Diana Rigg, 1967.

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#59 Diana Rigg on the set of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969.

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#60 Diana Rigg in a lacy slip and high heels, 1970

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