Search the Collection

Diana Rigg

(1938-2020), Actress

Dame Diana Rigg

Sitter in 6 portraits
Rigg spent her early years in Jodhpur, India, and at the age of eight was sent to school in England. Upon leaving school she enrolled at RADA, then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959. She found success in theatre, film and television. In 1965 she captured the popular imagination as Emma Peel in the British television series The Avengers. Rigg's performances in Medea at Wyndham's Theatre (1992), in Mother Courage at the National Theatre (1995) and in Phèdre and Britannicus at the Albery (1998) won her great critical acclaim. She was created a Dame in 1994.

Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

Diana Rigg

by J.S. Lewinski
bromide print, September 1966
NPG P1057

Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Diana Rigg as Emma Peel in 'The Avengers'

by Frank Oglesbee
vintage print, 1960s
NPG x194135

Diana Rigg

by J.S. Lewinski
bromide print from original 2 1/4 inch square film negative, September 1966
NPG x128709

Diana Rigg

by J.S. Lewinski
bromide print on card mount, September 1967
NPG x126258

Diana Rigg; Maggie Smith

by Bob Penn
matte resin print, 1981
NPG x34554

Diana Rigg

by Louise Bobbé
bromide fibre print, February 1999
NPG x125832

Related People

Rachael Stirling (daughter)

Groups

Actors and actresses

Places

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

Tony Green

11 September 2020, 00:23

Bryan Senior painted a small portrait for her - head & shoulders [?] if I remember right -- late 1950s when he was working for Crane Kalman Gallery -- maybe it will come to light now -- Bryan was my friend & painting buddy in Cambridge 1954-7 & for quite a few years after that --- I've been in Auckland NZ since 1969 & have lost touch with him ----- R.I.P. Diana Rigg --- Anthony [Tony] Green -- Emeritus Professor, Art History, University of Auckland

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.

Photographs 1965-2006

Thematic collections

Art in art

Tell us more

Can you tell us more about this person?

Diana Rigg