Dame Diana Rigg's daughter, Rachael Stirling, has shared intimate details of the actress's final days, revealing that Rigg, known for her roles in "James Bond" and "Game of Thrones," continued to enjoy Campari cocktails until the end of her life. Rigg died in 2020 at the age of 82 following a battle with cancer.
After her condition worsened, Rigg moved in with Stirling and her husband, Guy Garvey, where she was cared for. Stirling's new biography, "All About My Mother," recounts how her mother insisted on maintaining a 4 p.m. cocktail hour, which included Campari and soda, even as she stopped solid foods and was sustained by liquids. Stirling described their "clinkie drinkies" as non-negotiable throughout her mother's treatment.
As her health declined further and she was administered morphine for pain, Rigg reportedly grew weary of the dying process. According to Stirling, Rigg expressed a desire for her end to come sooner, telling her daughter, "It’s gone on too long. Make today my last day. Push me over the edge."
Stirling recounted that Rigg was read poetry by Robert Frost and eventually fell asleep. The following morning, Rigg reportedly awoke and weakly exclaimed, "Oh, another day!"
Her agent confirmed at the time of her death that Dame Diana died peacefully at home with her family. Tributes poured in for the actress, who was celebrated for her work in "The Avengers," "Game of Thrones," and as the Bond girl Tracy di Vicenzo in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," the only woman to marry James Bond.
Beyond her acting career, Rigg was also an advocate for equal pay and spoke out about a "Me Too moment" early in her career. She also revealed in 2019 that she had never watched "Game of Thrones," despite her memorable role as Lady Olenna Tyrell. Rigg, who was a classically trained actress and a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, received numerous awards, including BAFTA, Emmy, and Tony awards.