Diana Rigg: Cause of Death, Relationships, and Legacy

When Diana Rigg stepped onto the screen as Emma Peel in The Avengers, she didn’t just play a character—she redefined what a television heroine could be. But behind the iconic roles, from Bond girl to Olenna Tyrell, lay a private life that sparked as many questions as her performances.

Born: 20 July 1938 · Died: 10 September 2020 · Cause of death: Lung cancer · Notable role: Emma Peel in The Avengers · Children: 1 (Rachael Stirling) · Awards: BAFTA, Emmy, Tony

Seven facts about Diana Rigg, one pattern: each reveals a life that balanced public fame with private discretion.

What was the cause of Diana Rigg’s death?

Smoking and lung cancer

• Diana Rigg died of lung cancer on 10 September 2020 at her daughter’s home in London, according to Rolling Stone (US music/culture magazine).
• She was diagnosed with cancer in March 2020, as reported by The Independent (UK newspaper).
• Her family announced her death with a statement confirming she died peacefully in her sleep at home, per The Philadelphia Inquirer (US daily).

Diagnosis and treatment

• Rigg’s cancer was diagnosed in March 2020, only months before her death. Few details about her treatment were made public, as noted by BBC News (UK health desk).
• She chose to remain at home rather than in hospital during her final weeks, according to BBC News (UK public broadcaster).

Final days at home

• Rigg died at her daughter Rachael Stirling’s home in London, surrounded by family, as reported by The Guardian (UK daily).
• Rachael Stirling later said her mother “died peacefully at home,” per The Independent (UK newspaper).

The implication: her death was a personal tragedy shared with a public that had grown up watching her.

Was Diana Rigg a heavy smoker?

Early smoking habits

• Diana Rigg was a known smoker for many years, and she was often photographed with a cigarette, according to BBC News (UK public broadcaster).
• She started smoking early in her career, and it became a signature part of her public image, per The Guardian (UK daily).

Public statements about smoking

• Rigg rarely spoke about her smoking habit in interviews, but she never denied it, as noted by Rolling Stone (US music/culture magazine).
• In a 2015 interview, she joked about her “filthy habit” but did not express regret, according to The Independent (UK newspaper).

Impact on health

• Her smoking was cited as a factor in her lung cancer diagnosis, though medical records were not made public, per The Guardian (UK daily).
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the UK, and smoking accounts for about 72% of cases, according to BBC News (UK health desk).

The pattern: what made her iconic also contributed to her death.

Who did Diana Rigg leave her money to?

Her daughter Rachael Stirling

• Diana Rigg’s estate was left to her only child, Rachael Stirling, as reported by The Independent (UK newspaper).
• Rachael Stirling, an actress herself, has spoken publicly about inheriting her mother’s legacy, not just her wealth, per BBC News (UK public broadcaster).

Charitable donations

• Rigg also made donations to charities, though the beneficiaries and amounts were not disclosed, according to The Guardian (UK daily).
• She was a patron of several arts charities throughout her life, per BFI (UK film institute).

Estate details

• The exact value of her estate was not publicly disclosed, but probate records in England and Wales are often sealed for privacy, as noted by The Independent (UK newspaper).
• Rigg’s will was believed to be modest by celebrity standards, reflecting her dislike of ostentation, per Rolling Stone (US music/culture magazine).

What this means: her financial legacy was as private as her life.

Did Diana Rigg like Patrick Macnee?

On-screen chemistry in The Avengers

• Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee played Emma Peel and John Steed on The Avengers from 1965 to 1968, creating one of TV’s most iconic duos, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer (US daily).
• Their banter and partnership were a ratings hit, but Rigg later said the set was not a happy place, as reported by The Guardian (UK daily).

Off-screen friendship

• Despite the on-set tensions, Rigg and Macnee developed a warm off-screen relationship, per The Guardian (UK daily).
• Rigg referred to Macnee as a “dear friend” in interviews, and Macnee spoke fondly of her, according to Wikipedia (community encyclopedia).

Later comments about each other

• Years after the show ended, Rigg said Macnee was “one of only a few friends” she had on set, as reported by The Guardian (UK daily).
• Macnee, who died in 2015, once called Rigg “the best partner I ever had,” per The Philadelphia Inquirer (US daily).

The catch: the friendship lasted, but the show itself was a source of strife.

What was the relationship between Diana Rigg and Anthony Hopkins?

Collaboration on stage and screen

• Diana Rigg and Anthony Hopkins co-starred in the 1970 play The Misanthrope in London, as noted by World Socialist Web Site (independent socialist news).
• They also performed together in Macbeth in 1973, with Rigg as Lady Macbeth and Hopkins as Macbeth, per World Socialist Web Site (independent socialist news).

Personal anecdotes

• Rigg and Hopkins remained friends for decades, and they often spoke warmly of each other, according to Rolling Stone (US music/culture magazine).
• Hopkins once said Rigg was “one of the finest actresses I ever worked with,” per BBC News (UK public broadcaster).

Lasting friendship

• Rigg and Hopkins never married, and there is no confirmed romantic relationship, though rumors circulated, as noted by The Independent (UK newspaper).
• Both were private about their personal lives, and Rigg’s daughter Rachael has said the friendship was “deep and professional,” per The Guardian (UK daily).

What this means: their bond was professional, not romantic.

Diana Rigg’s life was a masterclass in balancing public fame with private dignity. For fans who grew up with her on screen, the story is one of a woman who lived fully and left a mark that will not fade. For younger audiences discovering her through Game of Thrones, the lesson is clear: true talent transcends generations.