Diana Rigg threatened to leave the show over unfair compensation
Diana Rigg went to The Avengers with a limited resume as an unknown British actor. Virtually overnight she was a national icon, which expanded to international when the program was picked up for American television. Her pay for the role of Emma Peel was less than that per week of her costar, Patrick Macnee, although the discrepancy was not a source of friction between the two. When she discovered that she was paid less weekly than the cameramen on the set it became a source of friction between her and the production team and network. Diana demanded more money for her second season on the show, though she did not demand parity with MacNee’s salary. Her demand became fodder for the British media, as well as talk shows (which the British call chat shows). She was widely disparaged for raising the issue, and for her demands for greater pay.
Much to her disappointment, she did not receive public support for her stance from her costar. MacNee remained silent on the issue, avoiding controversy. She was also disappointed to receive little in the way of support from other women in the industry. “…I was painted as this mercenary creature by the press when all I wanted was equality”, she told The Guardian in 2019. “Not one woman in the industry supported me…”. In the end the network increased her pay, but her reputation in the industry suffered. She became a pariah on the set to most of the crew and guest stars, though MacNee later claimed they remained friends. After just two years with The Avengers, Diana left as had Honor Blackman, to pursue a role with James Bond. She starred in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, replaced on The Avengers by Tara King.