Tremendous sad news has broken that Dame Diana Rigg has passed away at the age of 82 on 10 September 2020 from cancer.  She was surrounded by family and went peacefully. The news was announced by her agent Simon Beresford and followed by a statement from her daughter Rachael Stirling.  The official Game of Thrones Twitter has shared a tribute to an industry legend.

You will recognise Diana as Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones starring as Margaery Tyrell’s formidable Grandmother.  In an interview with Collider (2013), Natalie described what it was like to work with Diana, “She’s a vet, so for very young actresses like Sophie, and reasonably young actresses such as myself, working with someone as experienced, and who is a Tony Award-winning actress, is just a joy.  We watch and learn a bit.  We shut up and watch.”

Although this was only one fabulous role amongst many, Dame Diana Rigg has had a phenomenal career expanding fifty years across stage, television and film including roles in The Sentimental Agent (1963), The Avengers (1965-68), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1965), Macbeth (1972) and Madear (1992).  Please head over to Entertainment Weekly who have put up a slideshow of Dame Diana’s most memorable roles.

On behalf of Captivating Natalie Dormer I express my deepest condolences to Diana’s family and friends at this difficult time.  Please respect the family and give them privacy during their time of grief.

Sources:
– Herald Sun (2020)
– Entertainment Weekly (2020)
– Collider (2013)

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– Apr 03 | ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 8 Premiere

Natalie Dormer has said that before that she knows how Game of Thrones ends, but appreciates she’ll be “sued” if she shares her intel. What she will say is what she hopes will happen were she given script-writing duties.

“I would like humanity to be saved please,” she laughs. “It’s really just that in a nutshell – that humanity was saved against the White Walkers. I’m hoping for a continuation of humanity in Westeros if possible.”

The British actress, who played queen Margaery Tyrell in the popular show, assumes another regal role in her latest project, featuring as a queen in a new satirical Nespresso advert with George Clooney. She admits that, along with her love of coffee, working with Clooney was a big draw. The two traded notes on Berkshire, where she grew up and where the actor now lives with wife Amal and his twins.

“He is as delightful, witty and intelligent as he appears to be in his interviews,” she says. “It’s lovely to meet someone who matches the positive public profile that they have. He’s a generous human being and has time for everyone. His work catalogue speaks for itself and then there’s his humanitarian work. He’s very grounded, which is refreshing to find of someone of his fame or profile. It was a delight to spend a few days with him.”

Clooney and coffee aside, Dormer is currently working on a television series about Vivien Leigh, the wildly talented Gone With The Wind actress who spent her life battling with bipolar disorder. Dormer, who has spent the past few years producing and developing the show, was recently announced as the lead. The project is still in script development stages as it searches for a distributor.

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