‘I can’t wait to be old and gentle and retrospective and utterly past it’: Diana Rigg’s 10 greatest quotes

‘James Bond’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ actor has died aged 82

Thursday 10 September 2020 17:26 BST
Comments
Actor Diana Rigg has died aged 82
Actor Diana Rigg has died aged 82 (AFP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Fans are remembering James Bond and Game of Thrones star Diana Rigg, who died this morning aged 82.

Rigg was best known for playing Bond girl Countess Teresa di Vicenzo in the sixth 007 film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, in 1969. She also appeared in the iconic Sixties series The Avengers as Emma Peel.

After training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she went on to have a long and varied career on stage and screen.

Most recently, she was known for playing Tyrell family matriarch Olenna in HBO series Game of Thrones; she quickly became a fan-favourite.

Here are some of her most memorable quotes:

“The older you get, I have to say, the funnier you find life. That's the only way to go.” Closer

“Women of my age are still attractive. Men of my age aren't. They've got their cojones halfway to their knees, they have the same descent as tits." The Guardian, 2014

On fame: “I don’t think [I have changed], basically, no. I have many more accessories, I suppose I’ve got more money and more things, but the qualities that existed as a Yorkshire girl are still there.” Michael Parkinson, 1972

“Becoming a sex symbol overnight [in The Avengers] shocked me. I didn’t know how to handle it and I kept all the unopened fan mail in the boot of my car because I didn’t know how to respond and thought it was rude to throw it away. Then my mother became my secretary and replied to the really inappropriate ones saying: ‘My daughter’s far too old for you. Go take a cold shower!’” The Guardian, 2019

“I hope there's a tinge of disgrace about me. Hopefully, there's one good scandal left in me yet.” The Times, 1999

“I don’t go without make-up… I rather like that transformation in the morning from, ‘I don’t want to look in the mirror’, then you start pulling yourself together. It’s a rather nice present to yourself that you can still do that.” The Times, 2007

On her Game of Thrones character Olenna Tyrell: “I was extremely grateful that I didn’t die on the lavatory or in some rather undignified manner. The fact that I’d been kept alive for far longer than the original author had intended seemed to me that I had a pretty good run for my money, and I was perfectly philosophical about being killed off.” Entertainment Weekly, 2019

Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free
Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

“I'm not exactly all teeth and tits, am I?” The Times, 1972

“When I appeared nude in a play on Broadway in the early 70s, a nasty little critic said I was built like a brick mausoleum with insufficient flying buttresses. He should have seen me after the menopause, there was no shortfall then!” The Guardian, 2019

“I can’t wait to be old and gentle and retrospective, and utterly past it.” The Times, 2019

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in