Diana Rigg - Television Icon and Goddess
Diana Rigg should have been a worldwide superstar. Yes, she became famous and developed a cult following. Yes, this fame and cult following lt to decades of appearances on TV and in film. But she should not have merely done "appearances" nor should she have merely been Vincent Price's replacement as a host on PBS' MYSTERY!
Diana Rigg SHOULD have been a major bankable worldwide superstar actress. Had she come along in 2005 and not 1965, she would have. But, the entertainment world was a much different place 40 years ago and it is not fair. Did she make the right decision when she left THE AVENGERS and opted to move to films when the program was exposing her to fame in the lucrative market? In hindsight, yes. Starring on a TV program that was becoming successful in the USA would have made her an icon as opposed to a TV cult figure.
She did land the role in the BRILLIANT James Bond film ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969) but the film's box office did only a fraction of the previous films in the series as audience rejected George Lazenby in the Bond role. Sadly, by skipping out on Lazenby they skipped out on seeing Diana Riggs' brilliant performance as Bond's love interest/wife.
Her next popular motion pucture appearance was in the brilliant 1973 Vincent Price B Movie classic THEATER OF BLOOD, a film whose cult still endures to this day.
Of course, Riggs greatest fame came from her starring role on the legendary classic television series THE AVENGERS, a program that was puntuated by originality and great writing. Of course, having the gorgeous Rigg - a women who typified the quintissential 60's mod look - didn't hurt the appeal of the program. However, to think that Diana Riggs' popularity was solely based on her looks would be a ridiculous notion. Her acting ability and amazing charisma was off the charts and he truly elevated the role far beyond what it would be in less competent hands. In fact, the next time you watch an episode of THE AVENGERS watch Riggs' facial exprssions and how she infuses the character's personality in a subtle manner. This type of acting has become a lost art.
Diana Rigg SHOULD have been a major bankable worldwide superstar actress. Had she come along in 2005 and not 1965, she would have. But, the entertainment world was a much different place 40 years ago and it is not fair. Did she make the right decision when she left THE AVENGERS and opted to move to films when the program was exposing her to fame in the lucrative market? In hindsight, yes. Starring on a TV program that was becoming successful in the USA would have made her an icon as opposed to a TV cult figure.
She did land the role in the BRILLIANT James Bond film ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969) but the film's box office did only a fraction of the previous films in the series as audience rejected George Lazenby in the Bond role. Sadly, by skipping out on Lazenby they skipped out on seeing Diana Riggs' brilliant performance as Bond's love interest/wife.
Her next popular motion pucture appearance was in the brilliant 1973 Vincent Price B Movie classic THEATER OF BLOOD, a film whose cult still endures to this day.
Of course, Riggs greatest fame came from her starring role on the legendary classic television series THE AVENGERS, a program that was puntuated by originality and great writing. Of course, having the gorgeous Rigg - a women who typified the quintissential 60's mod look - didn't hurt the appeal of the program. However, to think that Diana Riggs' popularity was solely based on her looks would be a ridiculous notion. Her acting ability and amazing charisma was off the charts and he truly elevated the role far beyond what it would be in less competent hands. In fact, the next time you watch an episode of THE AVENGERS watch Riggs' facial exprssions and how she infuses the character's personality in a subtle manner. This type of acting has become a lost art.
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