Linda Thorson

The adventurous Canadian-born actress, who would invariably be known as the brunette dish who replaced Diana Rigg on the highly popular The Avengers (1961) spy series, was born Linda Robinson on June 18, 1947, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The second of four children of a math and physics teacher, she made a move to England in 1965 and initially studied dance and voice. A teen apprentice at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, her professional career took off abruptly in another direction, away from the theatre lights, when the 20-year-old was chosen (out of over 200 hopefuls) to succeed Ms. Rigg's "Emma Peel" as Patrick Macnee's new female TV partner. Despite her equally luscious looks and a set of beautiful, crystal blue orbs, Linda had major boots to fill following Ms. Rigg's departure and the stay was not long or all that heralded. Fans and critics alike loved "Emma Peel"; as a result, neither were all that kind to the rather inexperienced Linda, who eventually returned to her theatre roots to weather out the storm. Out of the limelight for much of the 1970s with maybe a few TV and supporting film roles, including Valentino (1977) and The Greek Tycoon (1978), coming her way, Linda made the trek to America, Broadway to be exact, and won a Theatre World Award for her fine performance in "Steaming" in 1982. Immediately following came rave reviews for the Drama Desk Award-winning comedy farce "Noises Off" and a more poised, mature Linda was back on her own terms. As a transatlantic player working in the U.S., her native Canada and in England, she went on to perform with the prestigious Royal Shakespearean and Old Vic theatre companies. By the late 1980s, she was appearing with more frequency on the big screen in such lesser-known films as Walls of Glass (1985), Sweet Liberty (1986), The Other Sister (1999) and Half Past Dead (2002). TV credits include guest work on Law & Order (1990) and St. Elsewhere (1982) and, as a regular cast member, on the series Marblehead Manor (1987), the daytime soap One Life to Live (1968) and The Hoop Life (1999). Although she has yet to gain the same kind of attention (and controversy) she did as a 20-year-old, her career has been consistently rewarding over the last three decades. Outstanding stage work in "Shirley Valentine" (1993), "The Sisters Rosenzweig" (1995) and "Amy's View" (2000) have added to her value as an artist. Married four times (divorced from third husband producer/newsman Bill Boggs), she has one son, Trevor, and resides in New York City. Married Canadian filmmaker Gavin Mitchell, 20 November 2005. Show less «