The late actress Diana Rigg, known for her roles in "The Avengers" and "Game of Thrones," is remembered by her daughter, Rachael Stirling, as a vibrant, ambitious, and sometimes difficult figure who lived life to the fullest. Stirling's new memoir, "I eat a grain of my mother, Diana Rigg's, ashes before all my opening nights," offers an intimate look at the "sixties sex symbol" and her enduring impact.
Stirling recounts her mother's unwavering spirit, noting Rigg's contract for ITV's "Victoria" at age 79 specifically included a clause for a glass of Prosecco before going on set. While Stirling herself has a more subdued pre-performance ritual – consuming a grain of her mother's ashes – she describes Rigg's approach to life as effervescent, recalling an anecdote where Rigg seemed unfazed by a hangover that severely affected co-star Toby Jones.
Rigg's formidable ambition was evident from her early days. Despite early struggles with stage fright, she recognized the need to transition to television to achieve broader fame. Her casting as Emma Peel in "The Avengers" in 1964 propelled her to international stardom. The role, which she secured over 60 other actresses, established her as a sex symbol, and she and George Clooney were later named "the sexiest TV stars of all time" in 2002. An estimated 20 million viewers tuned in to each episode.
Despite her success, Rigg faced workplace inequalities. Stirling highlights that Rigg, while not a radical feminist, demanded equal pay and was dismayed to learn she was paid less than the cameraman on "The Avengers." Decades later, while Patrick Macnee benefited from royalties, Rigg received a mere 28 pence for reruns.
Rigg's personality was as dynamic as her career. Stirling describes her mother as occasionally impatient, waspish, and jealous, referencing a remark about Judi Dench's casting in later roles. On the set of "Game of Thrones" at age 74, Rigg famously texted Stirling about the arduous filming of a scene, calling herself a "robot."
Her relationships were also marked by strong emotions. When she discovered her husband Archie Stirling's infidelity, she famously hired five taxis to transport his bespoke suits to charity shops across London. Her interactions with co-stars could also be colorful; she nicknamed George Lazenby, her Bond-era co-star in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "POG" (Poor Old George).
Rigg's dynamic with her daughter was complex. While filled with love, Rigg was reportedly unencouraging of Stirling's acting aspirations, once calling her daughter's stage portrayal of Medea a "catastrophic failure" after Rigg herself had received acclaim for the same role. Stirling sought therapy to navigate their relationship, attributing some of her mother's behavior to childhood insecurities.
Stirling also touches on Rigg's candid observations on life, love, and luxury, with quotes about "suckable" jewels and the essential nature of sex. Rigg continued to enjoy her "clinkie drinkies" – Campari and soda – up until her death in 2020 from lung cancer, a result of a lifetime of chain-smoking.
In her final year, Rigg moved in with Stirling and her husband, rock singer Guy Garvey. During this time, she reportedly made a playfully provocative remark about a film scenario involving a mother-in-law and son-in-law.
Stirling concludes that her mother's life serves as a lesson in living fully, trusting instincts, loving deeply, and maintaining a sense of humor and curiosity. "I see my mother’s life," Stirling writes, "as a lesson in living life to the full, in following your instincts, in loving with all your might, in laughing always at yourself first, and in being curious, now and for ever."