Inside All Creatures Great and Small star Diana Rigg’s will as pal turned down £5k gift

British icon Diana Rigg was a veteran of film, stage, and television for over five decades. The English actress shot to fame on shows such as The Avengers during the 1960s as Emma Peel and as Teresa di Vincenzo in the 1969 Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. In her late career, she also appeared in HBO's Game of Thrones in 2012 and continued her role as Olenna Tyrell for several seasons. Tragically, Diana died in September 2020 at the age of 82 following a short battle with cancer. After her death, she left £3 million to her daughter Rachael Stirling, including a house in France. But she also included £5,000 in her will to her local nail salon manager.

Beautician Jessica Zhu, who was reportedly with Diana on the day she died, decided to turn down the money offer and not keep the £5,000. The Daily Mail reported that she started giving the film star manicures and pedicures in 2001, but was unaware of her celebrity status until another customer told her.

Zhu said: "She was so generous and down to earth, you wouldn’t know... she was happy with simple things in life like a cup of coffee. Diana treated all the girls at the salon like family and was a very knowledgeable lady who gave us advice on life. We are very fortunate to have had her as a customer."

Apparently, Diana would visit the salon every two weeks or just before she was due to shoot a film. Jessica also said that she visited Diana in the hospital after she was diagnosed with cancer.

She said: "I was very fortunate that Diana wanted to say goodbye to me when she was ill and in hospital in March. I was with her until her last minute of life because I wanted to be with her. We had the same old chats that we were having in the salon.

"I was very sad when she passed away – she always told me not to be upset when she was dying. I didn’t realise Diana left £5,000 for me because I was with her out of love and kindness and told her I did not want anything from her." The money was then handed to Jack Stirling Garvey, Diana's grandson.

In addition to giving £3 million to her daughter Rachael Stirling, Diana gave £280,500 to relatives and charities, including £50,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital and St Christopher’s Hospice in south-east London, and £20,000 to the Earls Court Youth Club.

Dame Diana Rigg was also famed for her stage career, especially in the Greek tragedy Medea. Her final credited film role was in Last Night In Soho.