Rigg’s daughter, actor Rachael Sterling, said in a statement that her mother “spent her last months joyfully reflecting on her extraordinary life, full of love, laughter, and a deep pride in her profession.” She added, “I will miss her beyond words.” Rigg’s agent, Simon Beresford, said she “died at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time.”
Rigg’s storied career got its start in 1959 at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and she played legendary Shakespearean parts, including Helena in Peter Hall’s 1968 filmic version of. For many of her fans, though, perhaps her most memorable role was as that of the sexy, catsuited Emma Peel on the 1960s TV serieswhich made her an instant celebrity in both Britain and the United States.
, for which she was nominated for four Emmy Awards. Those weren’t Rigg’s only Emmy nominations, though; she collected nine total during her career, along with one best-supporting-actress win for her role as Mrs. Danvers in a 1997 miniseries production ofShe also won a BAFTA special award in 2000 foran honor shared with the series’ other stars, Honor Blackman, Joanna Lumley, and Linda Thorson.
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