Being a thoroughly emancipated woman in the 1960's was a rare thing, but Emma Peel (nee Knight) surely was! Her first task was to single-handedly run her late father's business, Knight Industries at the age of 21. She became an extremely successful scientist, bridge player and martial arts expert. Which made her the ideal partner for Steed to rid the world of all those diabolical masterminds!

Dame Diana Rigg

Born, 20th July 1938 in Doncaster, UK
She was educated in India, whilst her father was working as a Railroad Construction Engineer for 7 years
She returned to blighty to attend Boarding School in Yorkshire, graduated and began at RADA
Began acting for the RSC and was spotted on an Armchair Theatre Production and was asked to play the part of Emma Peel in 1965 at the age of 27
Diana left the Avengers in 1967 after 3 years playing Emma Peel - she went on to play Teresa Di Vicenzo in the James Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, alongside Australian Model, George Lazenby - she was the only Bond girl to wed James!
After many successful stage and screen appearances, she was made a Dame in 1994
Her daughter, Rachael Stirling is 28 (2006) and is also an actress, she starred in the controversial BBC Drama "Tipping The Velvet" in 2002, playing the part of "Nan".