Tributes have been pouring in for Dame Diana Rigg, following the actor’s death at the age of 82.
On Thursday, it was announced the former James Bond and Game Of Thrones star had died at home earlier that morning, after being diagnosed with cancer in March.
John Bradley, who starred in Game Of Thrones alongside Diana, was among the first to pay tribute to her after news of her death broke.
Writing on Twitter, John said: “Diana Rigg was just wonderful. But you all knew that already. Everybody did. Very sad news.”
The hit drama’s official Twitter account also put out a tweet remembering Diana, who played Olenna Tyrell between 2013 and 2017.
Diana’s former James Bond co-star George Lazenby remembered working with her on 1969′s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in which she played Bond’s wife Tracy Di Vicenzo.
“I’m so sad to hear of the death of Diana Rigg. She undoubtedly raised my acting game when we made On Her Majesty’s Secret Service together,” George wrote.
“We had fun together on the set of the movie in Switzerland and Portugal. Her depth of experience really helped me. We were good friends on set.
“The death of Contessa Teresa di Vincenzo Draco created a memorable cinema moment over 50 years ago. As my new bride, Tracy Bond, I wept for her loss. Now, upon hearing of Dame Diana’s death, I weep again.”
James Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli added that they were “very sad to hear of the passing of Dame Diana Rigg”, saying their “love and thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time”.
Other tributes from across the entertainment world flooded in online…
Meanwhile, Bafta also paid tribute to Diana and her 60-year career in a statement posted on Twitter.
They said: “We’re sad to hear of the passing of Dame Diana Rigg, Bafta-winner for her performance in Mother Love in 1990 and joint recipient of the Bafta Television Special Award in 2000 for The Avengers.”
Playwright Sir David Hare also wrote: “Diana Rigg had a dazzling change of direction in middle age as a great classical actor.
“When Emma Peel played Euripides’ Medea, Albee’s Martha and Brecht’s Mother Courage she swept all before her.”
Playwright Sir Tom Stoppard added: “For half her life Diana was the most beautiful woman in the room, but she was what used to be called a trooper.
“She went to work with her sleeves rolled up and a smile for everyone. Her talent was luminous.”
Diana’s death was announced in a statement from her agent Simon Beresford, who described her as a “much loved and admired member of her profession, a force of nature who loved her work and her fellow actors”.
Her daughter – actor Rachael Stirling – shared her own statement, revealing her mother had spent the months since her cancer diagnosis “joyfully reflecting on her extraordinary life, full of love, laughter and a deep pride in her profession”.
