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Diana Rigg

The poised, effortlessly versatile veteran of stage, film and television for over five decades, Dame Diana Rigg was a rara avis: a flawless interpreter of Shakespeare and other classical stage work, as well as a thinking man's sex symbol as Mrs. Emma Peel, the catsuit-sporting crime fighter on "The Avengers" (ITV, 1961-69). Rigg's cool beauty and knack for witty banter made her an idol among male viewers during the 1960s, but she struggled to overcome the character's superhuman charms after leaving the show. She instead found lasting fame and respect on Broadway and television, where she netted Tony and Emmy awards as formidable figures like Medea, Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca" (ITV, 1996), and Olenna Tyrell in "Game of Thrones" (HBO 2011- ). Though fondly remembered for "The Avengers" decades later, Rigg's body of work made her one of the most accomplished and respected actresses in the business.