Dame Diana Rigg had a brush with death when her heart stopped during a recent operation, the actress revealed
Dame Diana Rigg had a brush with death when her heart stopped during a recent operation, the actress revealed.
A devout Christian, the Avengers star joked that God had decided to ‘send her back’ when doctors revived her.
Revealing she was ‘jump-started’ by doctors following heart surgery, the Bond girl said the incident made her quit smoking.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the 79-year-old said: ‘I had a heart operation two months ago; it was called a cardiac ablation.
‘When I came round, the nurse said, “You might find a bit of a burn mark on your chest.” That’s where they jump-started me.
My heart had stopped ticking during the procedure, so I was up there and The Good Lord must have said, “send the old bag down again, I’m not having her yet”.’
The Yorkshire-born actress played the Duchess of Buccleuch in the Victoria Christmas special, the only member of the royal household who dared to criticise the headstrong queen.
Assuring fans that she is ‘fine now’, she confessed that the surgery – which followed her becoming ‘seriously ill’ – was the deciding factor that encouraged her to stop smoking.
The Bafta, Emmy and Tony award winner rose to fame as Emma Peel in 1960s TV series The Avengers, and as Bond girl Tracy in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
The Bafta, Emmy and Tony award winner rose to fame as Emma Peel in 1960s TV series The Avengers, and as Bond girl Tracy in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
She has also become known by fantasy fans as Olenna Tyrell in hit American show Game Of Thrones.
Having this year become a grandmother, she paid tribute to the parenting skills of both her daughter, actress Rachael Stirling, and her husband, Elbow frontman Guy Garvey.
Commenting on the new arrival in the family, she said: ‘I intend to be a fun granny. And Rachie really is a wonderful mother.
‘(Guy is) a wonderful father, so protective. When you see Guy and Rachie together, they’re so right for each other.’