Biography
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 and Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca" (ITV, …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Lived with her parents again when they returned to England from India | ||
| Modelled for four months in stores (date approximate) | ||
| Played Diana Smythe on the NBC sitcom, "Diana" | ||
| Returned to Broadway to act in a revival of Moliere's "The Misanthrope"; received Tony nomination as Best Actress in a Play | ||
| Spent time as a child living in India when her father worked there building railways; spoke Hindi and was tended to by the customary ayah (a nanny) | ||
1945 | Moved back to England when she began attending boarding school (date approximate) | |
1951 | Acted in school play of "Goldilocks" at age 13 | |
1957 | Professional stage debut as Natasha Abashwilli in RADA production of Bertolt Brecht's "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" at York Festival | |
1959 | Joined Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-on-Avon | |
1960 | First acted with the RSC when she played the role of Andromache in Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida" | |
1961 | London stage debut with RSC, playing Philippe Trincant in "The Devils" (February 20th) | |
1962 | Returned to Stratford; began playing wide range of Shakespearean roles at the Aldwych Theater | |
1963 | TV debut as Francy in episode of ITV's "Sentimental Agent" | |
1964 | Announcement that Rigg had won role of Emma Peel on "The Avengers" (December 15th) | |
1964 | Left the RSC (date approximate) | |
1965 | Acted on ABC hit adventure series, "The Avengers" | |
1966 | Returned to the RSC to play Viola in a production of "Twelfth Night" | |
1968 | Film debut as Helena in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (film version of RSC stage production, broadcast on CBS in 1969) | |
1971 | Broadway debut, "Abelard and Heloise"; received Tony nomination as Best Actress in a Play | |
1971 | First US film, "The Hospital" | |
1971 | Joined London's National Theater to play the role of Dottie in Tom Stoppard's "Jumpers" | |
1975 | US TV-movie debut, "In This House of Brede"; received Emmy nomination for performance | |
1982 | Last feature film for five years, "Evil Under the Sun" | |
1982 | Played the title role in the stage musical biography of the noted novelist, "Colette"; show closed while on tour and never made it to Broadway | |
1987 | Performed in the Stephen Sondheim musical, "Follies", on the London stage | |
1987 | Returned to features to play the "Mean Queen" in an adaptation of "Snow White" | |
1989 | Served as host of the British-made anthology series, "Mystery!", Broadcast on PBS | |
1990 | Starred in the PBS miniseries, "Mother Love", aired as several installments of "Mystery!" | |
1993 | Returned again to features to appear in another children's fantasy film, "The Worst Witch" | |
1994 | Named Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Queen | |
1994 | Returned to the Broadway stage for the first time in two decades in a revival of Euripides' classic tragedy, "Medea" | |
1999 | Portrayed a woman dying of cancer in "Parting Shots", directed by Michael Winner | |
2001 | Appeared in the A&E miniseries "Victoria & Albert" about the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert | |
2001 | Featured on the London stage in "Humble Boy" | |
2006 | Cast in John Curran's adaptation of the Somerset Maugham novel, "The Painted Veil" | |
Awards
1967 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance By an Actress In a in The Avengers |
1968 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance By an Actress In a in The Avengers |
1971 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in The Hospital |
1975 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress In a Special Program - in In This House of Brede |
1994 | Tony Award for Actress (Play) |
1997 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Special in Rebecca |
2002 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Movie in Victoria & Albert |