British actress Rachael Stirling has broken her silence 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 had not expected the reaction it would draw.

The comparison drew widespread attention after Stirling discussed the private gesture she made following her mother's death.

She made clear that the act was deeply personal and not something she felt warranted criticism.

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

Rigg's standing as a cultural icon remains well established, and Stirling has long paid tribute to her influence.

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