British actress Rachael Stirling has pushed back 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 caught public attention after Stirling discussed the private gesture she made following her mother's death.

She stressed that the act was an intimate farewell and not something she felt needed defending.

Diana Rigg was one of Britain's most celebrated actress, recognised for her roles in The Avengers and Game of Thrones.

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

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