Dame Diana Rigg's final days were characterized by her enduring love for a 4 p.m. Campari cocktail, the comfort of her daughter's home, and a profound desire for the end of her illness to come swiftly, according to her daughter, Rachael Stirling. Rigg died in 2020 at the age of 82, following a brief battle with cancer.
After her condition worsened, Rigg moved in with Stirling and her husband, Guy Garvey, lead singer of the band Elbow. During this period, Rigg, who had opted to stop most forms of treatment, continued her cherished ritual of a Campari and soda with a generous squeeze of lime. "Clinkie drinkies were a non-negotiable," Stirling wrote in her biography, "All About My Mother." This ritual persisted even as Rigg stopped solid foods, sustaining herself on liquids, including the Italian aperitif.
As her health declined further, Rigg was administered morphine for pain relief and received visits from friends and family. Stirling recounts that her mother grew impatient with the duration of her dying process. "It’s gone on too long. Make today my last day. Push me over the edge," Rigg reportedly told her daughter.
Stirling, who had promised to assist if her mother wished, found herself unable to fulfill the request. Instead, Garvey read poetry to Rigg, and she eventually drifted into sleep. The following morning, Rigg weakly exclaimed, "Oh, another day!" Her agent confirmed at the time of her death that Rigg had passed away peacefully at home with her family.
Rigg, celebrated for her roles in "The Avengers," "James Bond's On Her Majesty's Secret Service," and "Game of Thrones," was known for her commanding presence on stage and screen. Tributes from co-stars and industry figures highlighted her "flinty, fearless, fabulous force of nature" and a "dazzling wit and inimitable voice."
Her career spanned decades, beginning with the Royal Shakespeare Company and earning her accolades including BAFTA, Emmy, and Tony Awards. Her portrayal of Tracy di Vicenzo, the only woman to marry James Bond, in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" remains a memorable cinematic moment. George Lazenby, who played Bond in that film, shared his sadness, noting how Rigg "undoubtedly raised my acting game" and that they were "good friends on set."
Rigg also spoke out about her experiences with inequality and harassment in Hollywood. She recounted discovering she was paid less than her male co-stars on "The Avengers" and threatened to quit until producers granted her a pay rise. Reflecting on the #MeToo movement, she stated, "I'm all for the women who speak out, and I'm very glad that they now have a platform to speak out."