Customer Reviews

Diana Rigg: The Biography

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If you're a true Avengers addict or Diana Rigg devote there's probably not much that will dissuade you from purchasing this book. However fair warning should be given. The fact that Kathleen Tracy is listed as the "author" of this book is laughable. The book really should be titled, "Diana Rigg: The Compilation of Quotes and Information Cribbed From Every Other Story or Article Written about Diana Rigg." I imagine the publisher went with "biography" as the latter would be difficult to fit on the jacket. There's neither an original nor insightful word to be found in this "biography". This book is entirely made up of the content from articles previously published on Diana Rigg. Spend an hour searching on Lexis/Nexus and you'll achieve the same results as the book. Frankly, if I were Diana Rigg I'd be pretty peeved that someone is making money on this. I hope she's getting a cut.

Rigg is one of the greatest actresses of our time, and there's finally a biography that covers her life and work. A fun read, and lots of great pics.

Though forever linked in the public's eye with her Emma Peel role, Diana Rigg - sorry, Dame Diana Rigg! - is one of England's most respected theater actresses and, judging from this book, one hell of an interesting individual. In an eventful career fueled by a fierce independence and a drive to test new waters, Rigg has scored notable successes in the theater, movies and television along with the occasional failure. Her personal life has been as adventuresome and, as revealed in this biography by Kathleen Tracy, Rigg is as interesting a character as any role she has played.

Born in India and educated in England, Rigg arrived in London in the late 1950s very much a free spirit. Joining what was to become the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959 she embarked on a theater career, slowly establishing a reputation as a gifted, insightful actress. In 1965, on a whim, she auditioned for the AVENGERS TV series and won the role that made her into a cultural icon.

It isn't overstating matters to say the Emma Peel character exploded on the public conscience, especially the male portion. Here was a beautiful, intelligent, witty and self-assured woman capable of handling all situations, a woman totally unlike anything seen on television previously. Yet, for all the attention given to karate kicks and 'Emmapeeler' costume, Rigg was a marvelously talented actress with a wonderfully expressive face that could effortlessly go from self-confidence to uncertainty to terror. Not to mention a smile that lit up a room and a rich, fruity voice and laugh!

Characteristically seeking new challenges, Rigg left the AVENGERS after two years. Returning to the theater world her reputation as a stage actress steadily grew over the years, Olivier subsequently calling her "a brilliantly skilled and delicious actress." Rigg's track record in films and television was mixed. She was charming in THE ASSASSINATION BUREAU, held her own against George C. Scott in THE HOSPITAL, was the best Bond girl ever in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, tanked in DIANA, was Emmy nominated for IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE and was monstrously evil in MOTHER LOVE. Rigg's personal live was just as varied and interesting.

Rigg was not interviewed for this book, author Kathleen Tracy interweaving comments from previous Rigg interviews with background information and insightful commentary.

Unbelieveably this is the first book on this gifted Tony and Emmy Award winner. Rigg fans will enjoy this book immensely, especially those quoted sections where she reveals herself as a forthright, insightful and self-deprecating 'Dame who considers herself a dame.' Read & enjoy!

Being a long time fan of The Avengers, I want to know everything about my TV heroes.
There's not many a biography to find of Diana Rigg, so I bought this book. Since I read it after 'Blind in one ear' from Patrick Macnee, which is stunning in it's detail and honesty, it comes a bit as a disappointment.
Kathleen Tracy basicly collected every interview and bits of information she could find (quite some work in itself) and connects it all into a more or less logical order.
But it's a bit annoying to read all the time from which magazine or source any remark came.
It definitively gives you a more or less coherent image of who Diana Rigg was and is, but it's not exactly a smooth read.
More for the devoted fan like me, I'd say.

For Avengers fans as well as Diana Rigg admirers, time capsule of the sixties as well...