George Lazenby vs Diana Rigg: The Truth Behind Their James Bond Feud
Few Bond girls have left as indelible a mark on the franchise as Diana Rigg. As Contessa Teresa “Tracy” di Vicenzo—later Tracy Bond—she was the first woman to truly capture 007’s heart, only to meet a tragic end in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Her death scene, punctuated by George Lazenby’s now-iconic delivery of “We have all the time in the world,” is arguably his defining moment as James Bond. Yet, while the film’s legacy has only grown over time, George Lazenby vs Diana Rigg became an entirely different story, and stories from behind the scenes have cast a long shadow over its production—specifically, the feud between its two leads.
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Garlic, Champagne, and Set Tensions
It’s common knowledge, Rigg and Lazenby did not see eye to eye on set, with speculation ranging from on-set clashes to deliberately sabotaging love scenes. One of the more infamous claims was that Rigg would eat copious amounts of garlic before filming intimate moments with Lazenby to throw him off. Rigg, however, dismissed this outright.
“No, George, I did not eat garlic on purpose,” she insisted, rebuking what she saw as paranoia from her co-star. “No, George, I was not, as you said, guzzling champagne in some warm bar when we had the row.”
Far from being a mere case of actors clashing over egos, Rigg suggested that Lazenby’s behavior was the real issue. She claimed that he was obsessed with himself, and by the end of filming, most of the crew had turned against him—not because of any manufactured feud, but due to what she described as his “extreme behaviour.”
George Lazenby vs Diana Rigg: A Troubled Set
With the George Lazenby vs Diana Rigg onscreen battle, production of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was far from smooth sailing, and Rigg made no secret of the tensions that arose. “Why else would your dresser threaten to hand in his notice?” she asked pointedly, adding, “Why else would three chauffeurs leave you within a week?”
The most damning accusation, however, concerned Lazenby’s interactions with others on set. “Why else was one member of the unit restrained from striking you after one inexcusable and crude outburst against one of the girls in the film?” she pressed.
Lazenby, for his part, has remained relatively reserved when addressing these claims. He has described Rigg as a “bright lady” and denied being the source of the rumors that dogged the film’s production.
The Bond Legacy Moves On
Despite—or perhaps because of—their tensions, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service remains one of the most emotionally resonant entries in the Bond franchise. Even Casino Royale, often considered one of the best modern Bond films, borrows liberally from its structure, albeit without the ski chases and Austin Powers-esque cravats.
As speculation continues over who will step into the tuxedo following Daniel Craig’s departure, it’s worth remembering that Bond’s biggest battles haven’t always been fought against Blofeld. Sometimes, the real conflicts have taken place behind the camera, proving that even in the world of 007, life can be just as dramatic as fiction.
