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Emma Peel

Emma Peel
The Avengers character
Emma-Peel Avengers-Intro.jpg
Diana Rigg as Mrs. Emma Peel
First appearance Series 4
Last appearance Series 6
Portrayed by Diana Rigg (1965–1968)
Uma Thurman (1998)
Voiced by Diane Appleby (1971–1973)
Sue Lloyd (1977)
Information
Gender Female
Occupation Unofficial undercover operative
Spouse(s) Peter Peel
Relatives Sir John Knight (father)
Nationality British

Emma Peel is a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers, and by Uma Thurman in the 1998 film version. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight.

As a lady spy adventurer and expert in martial arts, she became a feminist role model around the world, and is considered an icon of British popular culture. Regarded as a 1960s fashion icon, the character is often remembered for the leather catsuit worn by Rigg in the first series.

The partner of John Steed, Mrs. Peel was introduced as a replacement for the popular Cathy Gale, played by actress Honor Blackman, who left the programme at the end of the programme's third season to co-star in the James Bond film Goldfinger.

Elizabeth Shepherd was cast as Emma Peel and production on the fourth series began. After filming all of one episode and part of a second, however, the producers decided that Shepherd was not right for the part, and she was dismissed. No footage of Shepherd as Peel is known to have survived.

The producers scrambled to replace her and gave the job to Diana Rigg; the Shepherd episodes were subsequently re-filmed.

The character was notable for a number of characteristics. She is a heroine; she is rarely defeated in fights and is capable of rescuing Steed if he is in trouble. She is a master of martial arts and a formidable fencer. A certified genius, she specializes in chemistry and other sciences. She is often seen in episodes engaging in artistic hobbies and had success in industry at the helm of the company of her late father, Sir John Knight. Her husband, Peter Peel, was a pilot whose plane disappeared over the Amazonian forest. He was presumed dead for many years, and Peel went on to work with Steed. She drove a convertible Lotus Elan at high speeds, and convincingly portrayed any series of undercover roles, from nurse to nanny. Her favourite guise was that of a women's magazine reporter, trying to interview big business tycoons and rich playboys. The name "Emma Peel" is a play on the phrase "Man Appeal" or "M. Appeal", which the production team stated was one of the required elements of the character.


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