I loved the idea of playing this naughty old bag, offering her own explanation. It's my idea of heaven.
Diana Rigg
I hope there's a tinge of disgrace about me. Hopefully, there's one good scandal left in me yet.
If you're earning equal pay to a man, you get respect. It shouldn't be that way, but it is.
The older you get, I have to say, the funnier you find life. That's the only way to go.
I made a bit of a stink. At the time, it was considered very bad form.
I thought it was ridiculous that I was being paid less than a cameraman, and I wanted to shame them. And I did.
Once, when I was playing a nude scene in an indifferent play in New York, a critic wrote, 'Diana Rigg is built like a brick basilica with too few flying buttresses.' Do you think that's fair?
In actual fact, I doubled 'Twelfth Night' and 'The Avengers'. I was going backwards and forwards to Stratford. I played matinees Wednesday, matinee and evenings Saturdays, and the other days of the week, I was filming in Elstree.
If a man holds a door open for me or pulls back a chair so that this old bag can sit down, I'm delighted.
If you get serious about yourself as you get old, you are pathetic.
Many years ago, when I was working on Broadway, I used to go to a drug rehabilitation centre on Sundays. I didn't lecture them against the perils of drug-taking; I gave them drama therapy.
I would head to the countryside for peace and silence. That would be the best way, away from panicked, hysterical people.
Tabloid newspapers are very rich and hold huge funds to fight claims.
It's particularly exhausting because Medea is defined by her determination. The role is all about endeavour.
I was nice and well-mannered because I was taught manners. I was very imaginative and quite adventurous. I was a tomboy, and I was always jealous that my older brother Hugh had bigger toy aeroplanes than me. I was always playing with boys' toys; I don't remember owning any dolls.
I love women but am aware we're dangerous and deeply competitive, although I gave up being competitive long ago.
All these old images of me floating across the screen, the terrible chasm of what you were and what you are. I know who I am, but these people who see me as I was then don't.
Some of those early photographs of me might as well be sepia. It's always thought that I disclaim television and am too theatre, but the truth is 'The Avengers' bores me now. I was grateful because it catapulted me into stage stardom. It was good. I'm not ashamed of it. But I only did it for two years.
It's a question of economics. If you're paid the same as a man, which now you are in this profession, you're equal.
I never relied on my beauty for anything. It was one of those things that was inevitable; you have a bit of philosophy about it. I didn't go into mourning.
If you have a good inner life, you don't get lonely. I've got a good imagination. I don't miss romance.
To all the younglings I come across in 'Game of Thrones' who suddenly find themselves well known, I say the theatre is your best friend - they will remember you.
I'm in a position to do exactly what I want. I travel quite a lot. I read prodigiously. I go to the theater, to concerts. London is a wonderful city to live in.
Mostly what you remember and enjoy are the scenes you played with people. And quite often, they're the combative scenes!
I wouldn't like to see a female Bond, because we wouldn't want to lose the Bond girls. But we could have a lesbian Bond - why not?
Critics have to sit through an awful lot of rubbish, and you feel really sorry for them. In fact, I've been in a play where I felt sorry for the critics.
The opportunity to be bizarre - I am bizarre, aren't I? - is just so wonderful, isn't it?
There is a life after being at the pinnacle of your beauty. Plenty of life and fun.
I love 'Mastermind'. It's touching that people spend so much time learning. I do have quite good general knowledge, but I wouldn't consider going on the show. I also like watching 'Only Connect.'
Maybe at this stage in my career, it's from that younger generation that I have most to learn.
I've played the Greek classics; I've played the English classics. I promise you, I'm not complacent, because I hope to be playing all sorts of stuff that I've never played before while the mind - and the body - still functions.
I cry all the time. Remembrance Day in particular. In fact, anything to do with veterans makes me sob.
I have no way of comparing myself to other people my age; I can't compare myself with Jane Fonda, can I? I haven't had the work done. I admire the discipline of someone who maintains that degree of beauty, but I'm not prepared to do it.
The first time Rachie and I will be working together is on an episode of 'Doctor Who' specially written for us by Mark Gatiss. How lucky is that?
I step into a character in my public life. People who don't make that distinction are dooooomed.
'Game of Thrones' is wonderful. My theory is they employ all these British actors because, one, they are like me and grateful. Two, we turn up, and we know our lines. Three, we don't demand a 60 ft. Winnebago and PA, and four, largely we are very uncomplaining.
Years ago I was at a function, and I must have said something really rude to Paul Daniels the magician. I can't recall what I said, but I remember him looking utterly crestfallen. I'm not that sort of person, but I must have said something very cutting and belittling. Our paths haven't crossed since, but if they had, I would have said sorry to him.
I think you have to know someone to truly dislike them, don't you? That said, I'd shove most politicians into a cauldron and boil them up.
I was nourished and nurtured at Stratford as a very young actress. They guided me and forgave me!
I am not aware of fans, because I don't live that sort of life, but I am awfully grateful.
Working keeps me young. Anything that exercises the brain like learning lines.
There were no prototypes for me - the telly was full of little blonde juveniles.
It was an extremely overdramatic play called 'Wild Decembers'. It was all about the Brontes, and they all, one after the other, died of tuberculosis. I remember taking every opportunity to cough over other people's lines.
There are those who have a knowledge and passion for the theatre, and those who don't.
There was a guy called Carlos Thompson, who was I think Argentinian, and he was doing a series called 'Sentimental Agent'. That was the very first thing that I did. It was supposed to be taking place in some exotic location, but in actual fact, it was Chertsey with a few shivering potted palms.
I've been utterly and completely castigated from time to time.
I confess I do a lot of the wrong things: I smoke, and I drink wine, and people might be horrified at my eating habits - I eat when I'm hungry, and if I'm not, I don't.
I think Thespis just wanted to be a solo player, you know?
I find the whole feminist thing very boring. They are so much on the defensive that they dare not love a man because they feel assaulted by being dependent.
Yes, well, you are quite camp, so I guess that he could see the point of you.
