Scepticalscribe
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- Aug 12, 2020
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I read today of the death of Diana Rigg, the actor, aged 82, one of my favourite actors - whom I adored as a child, and respected and revered as an adult.
As a child, I adored her character of Emma Peel in The Avengers.
At the time, in the 60s, there weren't many roles where women could appear competent, accomplished, deadly in combat, entirely independent, and yet wonderfully stylish, and it was clear from The Avengers that she was completely equal to her colleague, John Steed, (played by the effortlessly elegant Patrick McNee, whom I also liked).
Actually, she was the first female character I ever saw on screen that I wished to emulate, or with whom I identified.
As a child, I wanted to be Emma Peel: (I mean, who wanted to be Truly Scrumptious, even if you did love Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?)
Indeed, while playing Emma Peel with The Avengers, she discovered that she - a female lead - was paid less than the male cameraman, (and not just less than her male co-star, Patrick McNee); that led to a challenge, - which she won (and where she enjoyed McNee's full and enthusiastic support) - where she sought to be paid the same as her male colleagues for the role she played.
In the James Bond franchise, she played an excellent role as the only female love interest - in On Her Majesty's Secret Service - to have been Bond's clear physical, intellectual and social equal, the only woman to whom he was ever married.
However, she was also an accomplished stage actress, playing many roles with the RSC, and more recently, was a wonderfully waspish Lady Olenna Tyrell in the TV series, Game of Thrones.
RIP Diana Rigg. She rocked; what a wonderful role model.
As a child, I adored her character of Emma Peel in The Avengers.
At the time, in the 60s, there weren't many roles where women could appear competent, accomplished, deadly in combat, entirely independent, and yet wonderfully stylish, and it was clear from The Avengers that she was completely equal to her colleague, John Steed, (played by the effortlessly elegant Patrick McNee, whom I also liked).
Actually, she was the first female character I ever saw on screen that I wished to emulate, or with whom I identified.
As a child, I wanted to be Emma Peel: (I mean, who wanted to be Truly Scrumptious, even if you did love Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?)
Indeed, while playing Emma Peel with The Avengers, she discovered that she - a female lead - was paid less than the male cameraman, (and not just less than her male co-star, Patrick McNee); that led to a challenge, - which she won (and where she enjoyed McNee's full and enthusiastic support) - where she sought to be paid the same as her male colleagues for the role she played.
In the James Bond franchise, she played an excellent role as the only female love interest - in On Her Majesty's Secret Service - to have been Bond's clear physical, intellectual and social equal, the only woman to whom he was ever married.
However, she was also an accomplished stage actress, playing many roles with the RSC, and more recently, was a wonderfully waspish Lady Olenna Tyrell in the TV series, Game of Thrones.
RIP Diana Rigg. She rocked; what a wonderful role model.
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