Rigg, Diana (1938–)

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Rigg, Diana (1938–)

English actress. Name variations: Dame Diana Rigg. Born July 20, 1938, in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England; m. Menachem Gueffen, 1973 (div. 1976); m. Archie Stirling, 1982 (div. 1990); children: Rachael Stirling (b. 1977, actress).

Joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (1959); made London debut in Ondine (1961), followed by A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Comedy of Errors, The Physicists, King Lear, Jumpers and Macbeth, among others; films include A Midsummer Night's Dream (as Helena), On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Julius Caesar (as Portia), The Hospital, Theatre of Blood, A Little Night Music, The Great Muppet Caper, Evil Under the Sun and A Good Man in Africa; on tv, starred as Emma Peel on "The Avengers" (1965–67) and in title role of "Diana" (1973–74); hosts the PBS series "Mystery!"; compiled No Turn Unstoned (a collection of nasty theatrical reviews through history, 1982); serves as chancellor of Stirling University in Scotland. Nominated for Tony awards for Abelard and Heloise (1972) and The Misanthrope (1975); won a Tony for Medea (1994); named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE, 1994).