If you ask a casual fan about the best Bond girl, they’ll probably mention Ursula Andress stepping out of the surf in a white bikini. Or maybe Vesper Lynd breaking 007's heart in a Venetian basement. But the real ones? The people who actually know the franchise? They’ll tell you it was always Diana Rigg. Honestly, it's not even a competition.
In 1969, the Bond franchise was in a weird spot. Sean Connery had walked away. The producers had just hired an Australian male model named George Lazenby who had zero acting experience. They needed someone who could carry the film. Someone who could make you believe that the world's most famous bachelor would actually settle down.
Enter Diana Rigg.
She wasn't just another "Bond girl." She was already a massive star because of The Avengers. She was Emma Peel. She was a feminist icon who could karate-chop a villain while wearing a leather catsuit and look bored doing it. When she took the role of Contessa Teresa "Tracy" di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, she didn't just play a love interest. She basically reinvented what a woman in a Bond film could be.
The Garlic Myth and the Lazenby Feud
You’ve probably heard the story. It’s one of those Hollywood legends that just won't die. The rumor was that Diana Rigg hated George Lazenby so much that she’d eat massive amounts of garlic before their kissing scenes just to mess with him.
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It’s a great story. It’s also kinda total nonsense.
Lazenby himself actually walked back those claims years later. In a 1981 interview, he admitted it was basically a joke that the press took way too seriously. Apparently, they were having lunch, and Rigg shouted across the room, "I'm having garlic today, George, I hope you are!" It was playful banter, not biological warfare.
But that doesn't mean it was all sunshine and rainbows on set. Far from it.
Rigg actually wrote an open letter to the Daily Sketch in 1970 because she was so fed up with Lazenby’s behavior. She didn't hold back. She called out his "extreme behavior" and mentioned that his own dresser and multiple chauffeurs had quit because they couldn't stand him. She even brought up his salary—22,000 pounds for his first movie—and basically told him to stop complaining.
The tension was real. Lazenby was a "raw recruit" as he called himself, struggling with the sudden fame and the massive ego that came with it. Rigg was a classically trained powerhouse from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Imagine being a pro and having to carry a lead actor who’s more interested in his cars than his lines. It had to be exhausting.
Why Tracy Bond Changed Everything
Most Bond girls before Tracy were... well, decorative. They were there to be rescued or to provide information before disappearing. Tracy was different. She had a backstory. She had "baggage."
When we first meet her, she's trying to drown herself in the ocean. She's the daughter of a crime boss, Marc-Ange Draco, and she’s deeply troubled. Bond doesn't just sleep with her; he saves her. And then, in a twist that actually makes sense for the character, she saves him right back.
The Barn Scene
There’s a moment in the film where Bond is truly terrified. He’s being hunted in a blizzard, cornered in a village. He looks vulnerable. Then, a red Mercury Cougar pulls up. Tracy is behind the wheel. She doesn't wait for him to open the door; she tells him to get in.
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- She drove the car. In an era where the man always took the wheel, Tracy handled the high-speed chases.
- She held her own. She was an expert skier and could handle herself in a fight.
- She was Bond's equal. This wasn't a fling. It was a partnership.
The Tragedy of "All the Time in the World"
The ending of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is still the most heartbreaking moment in the entire 60-year history of the franchise. They get married. They’re happy. They pull over to the side of the road to take the flowers off the car.
And then Irma Bunt drives by.
The shot through the windshield. The silence. The way Lazenby (in arguably his best acting moment) cradles her body while the police officer approaches. "It’s quite all right, it’s quite all right," he says. "She’s having a rest. We’ll be going on soon. There’s no hurry, you see. We have all the time in the world."
That line hits like a freight train. It’s also the title of the Louis Armstrong song that plays during their montage. Interestingly, the song wasn't a hit when the movie came out. It took decades for people to realize how perfect it was.
Rigg's performance in that final scene is haunting because she doesn't do anything. She’s just gone. And in that moment, James Bond was changed forever.
The Legacy of Mrs. James Bond
Even though Rigg only appeared in one film, her ghost haunted the franchise for decades. You see it in The Spy Who Loved Me when Bond gets visibly upset when his marriage is mentioned. You see it in For Your Eyes Only when he visits her grave.
Even the Daniel Craig era, which was a total reboot, couldn't escape her influence. Vesper Lynd was essentially a modern-day Tracy. And the final Craig film, No Time to Die, leans heavily on the music and themes from Rigg's movie.
What You Can Learn from Diana Rigg’s Career
Rigg wasn't just a Bond girl; she was a pioneer. She fought for equal pay on The Avengers long before it was a mainstream talking point. She discovered that a cameraman was making more than she was and threatened to leave the show if they didn't fix it.
They tripled her salary.
She went on to win Tonys, play Medea on Broadway, and eventually became the "Queen of Thorns," Olenna Tyrell, in Game of Thrones. She was the only person who could out-talk Tyrion Lannister.
Actionable Insights: How to Watch Like an Expert
If you want to truly appreciate what Diana Rigg did for the James Bond mythos, don't just watch the highlights. Do this:
- Watch "The Avengers" first. Specifically the Emma Peel seasons. You need to see her "M-Appeal" (Man Appeal) in action to understand why she was such a big deal for 1960s audiences.
- Look at the eyes. In the casino scenes in OHMSS, watch how Rigg uses her eyes. She’s assessing Bond, not just flirting. She’s playing a game of chess while everyone else is playing checkers.
- Listen to the John Barry soundtrack. It’s arguably the best one in the series. The "We Have All the Time in the World" theme isn't just a love song; it’s a funeral march.
- Compare her to Vesper. If you're a fan of Casino Royale, watch OHMSS right after. You'll see exactly where the "Bond falling in love" blueprint came from.
Diana Rigg didn't just play a character; she validated the entire concept of James Bond having a soul. Without her, 007 would have remained a one-dimensional caricature. Because of her, he became a human being who could lose something. And that loss is exactly what has kept him relevant for over half a century.
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Next Steps for Bond Fans:
Start by revisiting the 4K restoration of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Pay close attention to the Lauterbrunnen ice rink sequence; it’s where the chemistry between Rigg and Lazenby actually works best. Then, track down her 1970 open letter to see the real-life grit behind the scenes. Finally, watch her final scenes as Olenna Tyrell to see a master class in how a legendary actress ages with power and wit.