She was smart. She was athletic. She had cheeky humor, a playful smile, and was a force to be reckoned with, Diana Rigg created an iconic role as Emma Peel in the British TV show the Avengers.
She had big heels to fill, after Honor Blackman left the show and her Cathy Gale role. Both of these women were strong and smart, and far from the general portrayal on TV during that time. Perhaps it is coincidental, but both went on to have well known leading Bond Women roles in “Goldfinger” and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, and both as well were clothed by legendary John Suttclife of Atomage fame.
I can still remember flipping through the channels and coming across “The Avengers” in re-runs and seeing the beautiful Diana Rigg in her skin tight leather catsuit either in bondage or using karate versus the bad guys, but I was hooked. These were impressionable years, and I would be remise to say that the leather was not a big draw, and to this day, leather catsuits have a special place in my heart. One day perhaps I will track down and own a Suttclife Atomage original creation, perhaps a holy grail of the fetish world.
What I also enjoyed was Rigg’s smart and humorous portrayal. She exuded confidence and her smile melted any bad mood I was in. Sadly as the show moved to color, her leather was replaced with bright colored fabric suits, but I was still hooked nonetheless.
In this page are some of my favorite images of Diana in her signature leather. She will be missed, as well as beyond everything else, she became a cultural icon, and Emma Peel draws fast recognition and became perhaps one of the most well-known heroine’s out of that era.
Rest in Peace.
Feel free to drop a line to me and we can see where it goes