British actress Rachael Stirling has spoken out after media coverage compared her to a cannibal, following her admission that she ate some of the ashes of her mother, Diana Rigg, who died in 2020.

Stirlng described the act as a personal tribute and said she was unprepared for the reaction it would draw.

The comparison caught public attention after Stirling shared details of the private gesture she made following her mother's death.

She made clear that the act was a private form of mourning and not something she felt needed defending.

Diana Rigg was a widely respected actress, remembered for her roles in The Avengers and Game of Thrones.

Rigg's legacy in British television and theatre remains strong, and Stirling has long paid tribute to her influence.

Stirlng is also set to appear at an upcoming event in Tisbury.