Game of Thrones cast and crew members honor Diana Rigg
By Dan Selcke
Diana Rigg’s colleagues pay their respects, including Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman, former James Bond George Lazenby, and more.
Today, it was announced that Diana Rigg, best known to Game of Thrones fans as the indomitable Olenna Tyrell, had died in her sleep at the age of 82.
Immediately, those who knew Rigg on Thrones and elsewhere began to pay their respects, starting with the official Game of Thrones Twitter account:
Be a dragon.
— Game of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) September 10, 2020
The realm will always remember Diana Rigg.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) paid tribute to Rigg on his Instagram:
“She always raised the bar with her incredible talent, intelligence and wit. An absolute joy and honor to work with. May her soul Rest In Peace.”
Pedro Pascal (Oberyn Martell) weighed in on Instagram, as well:
Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth) also paid his respects:
Rest in peace. A remarkable wonderful and enormously talented human being. https://t.co/50ZXLEe9vI
— liam cunningham (@liamcunningham1) September 10, 2020
As did John Bradley (Samwell Tarly):
Diana Rigg was just wonderful. But you all knew that already. Everybody did. Very sad news. #dianarigg
— John Bradley (@johnbradleywest) September 10, 2020
Not all of these actors may have worked directly with Rigg on the show, but clearly she made an impact all the same.
Mark Gatiss played Iron Banker Tycho Nestoris on Game of Thrones, but also worked with Rigg on the Doctor Who episode “The Crimson Horror,” where he wrote the part of Mrs. Gillyflower just for her:
It was my great joy and privilege to have known Diana Rigg. From three slightly hysterical months at the Old Vic in ‘All About Mother’ to writing The Crimson Horror for Diana and her wonderful daughter Rachael. Flinty, fearless, fabulous. There will never be another. RIP pic.twitter.com/2EGc4MVx0S
— Mark Gatiss 💙 (@Markgatiss) September 10, 2020
George Lazenby, who played James Bond opposite Rigg’s character Tracy in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, fondly remembered his costar:
Edgar Wright, who directed Rigg on the yet-to-be-released Last Night in Soho, celebrated her talent:
What to say about Diana Rigg? I could talk about her incredible career, but for now I'll just say as a lifelong fan, it was beyond a thrill to work with her on her final film. She exceeded all my highest expectations, so blazingly talented, fiery & funny. Miss you already Dame D. pic.twitter.com/3crtUsJhla
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) September 10, 2020
And not all the remembrances came from people who worked with Rigg professionally. Author Mark Harris simply met Rigg in passing, and she sounds like every bit as delightful a person you’d think she is having watched her on TV and in movies:
2 years ago I sat next to Diana Rigg at a Tonys party. She was in My Fair Lady--at 80. She told me it was a great role because she could get tons of reading done btw scenes. Then she gave me her phone and said, "Find Uber on this and get me the hell out of here." RIP to a great.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) September 10, 2020
One of the most touching tributes came from Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman, who remembered the first time he worked with Rigg on set:
She was glorious and funny and didn’t suffer fools. She was a consummate pro. I was so nervous the day we shot the first of many scenes I wrote for her. It was Season 3 - a scene with Tyrion (not in the books) where she gives him one of her signature dressing downs...
— It's Christmastime Again, Bryan Cogman! (@cogman_bryan) September 10, 2020
... that line too, despite it being an absurd line for any actor to have to utter. She was a goddamn pro. And I’m so proud we were able to expose her incredible talent to younger audiences who might not have discovered her yet. And, again, so honored. Rest In Peace, milady.
— It's Christmastime Again, Bryan Cogman! (@cogman_bryan) September 10, 2020
Here’s the scene he was talking about:
A queen of thorns indeed.
Rest in peace, Dame Diana. We shall never see her like again.
Next. Samuel L. Jackson’s tribute to Diana Rigg is as awesome as it sounds. dark
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