London, UK – Six years ago, Game of Thrones star Diana Rigg died at the age of 82 after a battle with cancer. Her daughter, Rachael Stirling, had a close bond with her Hollywood star mother and still feels connected to her, admitting in her new book that she swallows her mother’s ashes on certain occasions.
The 49‑year‑old revealed in her memoir, All About My Mother, an extremely unusual, almost questionable ritual. Before every premiere performance, she swallows “a grain or two” of her late mother’s ashes before stepping onto the stage, per reports by The Telegraph.
While many would feel a wave of nausea at the mere thought of it, ingesting tiny pieces of her cremated mother is, for Stirling, an act of intimacy.
“Although it shocks people when I tell them,” she writes, “it feels absolutely natural to me. I am cloaked in her, shielded and shrouded by her. My mother is my superpower.”
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In the book, the 49‑year‑old also recounts her mother’s early childhood. According to the actor, who was born in England, she grew up in India until she was eight and even spoke a little Hindi.
Later, Rigg attended a boarding school in Yorkshire, staying in touch with her parents through letters: “I’ve basically been sobbing for two years since reading those.”
Despite a difficult youth, the Brit launched a rapid acting career, becoming famous in 1965 through the British TV series, The Avengers, and taking leading roles in numerous stage productions.
In 1969, she thrilled audiences as Bond girl Tracy alongside James Bond actor George Lazenby in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. From 2013 to 2017, Rigg portrayed Olenna Tyrell in the popular series, Game of Thrones.
Although Rigg allegedly did not want her daughter to follow in her footsteps, Rachael Stirling is now also working as an actor. Her book is set to be released on September 10.
