Happy Birthday to Diana Rigg. Born on this day in 1938, Rigg spent her early years in India. She returned to England at age eight and began her training at RADA in 1955. Her first big break on television was in a 1963 episode of Sentimental Agent. Broadcast two years prior to her debut as Mrs. Emma Peel on The Avengers, the young actress already displayed her trademark gravitas and irresistible intelligence and charm. Following her seasons on The Avengers, Rigg went on to appear in numerous stage productions, films, and television shows, including her own series, Diana(1973-1974). Spy Vibers continue to celebrate Rigg for her role in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), often voted the best James Bond film of all time. She appeared most recently in Game of Thronesand Doctor Who, and has expressed an interest in returning to the Royal Shakespeare Company. At age 77 she shows no signs of slowing down. "I don't want to retire," she said. "I never want to retire. What's the point of it?" She channeled her perspective on theatrical reviews in the book No Turn Unstoned in 1983 and her biographywas published in 2004 by Kathleen Tracy. Paying tribute to her Avengers co-star Patrick Macnee, who passed away in June, she said, "Patrick was a very dear man and I owe hime a great deal." Macnee famously helped champion better working conditions and deals for his female co-stars and he continued to celebrate Diana Rigg and the other actresses for their importance as strong female role models in the 1960s. Selected Spy Vibe posts: Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Mods to Moongirls, Peeling Off the Trench Coats, Jean Varon, The Avengers Sing. Many Happy Returns, Diana!
