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 was unprepared for the reaction it would draw.

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

She emphasised that the act was a private form of mourning and not something she felt warranted criticism.

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

Rigg's standing as a cultural icon remains significant, and Stirling has long reflected publicly on her influence.

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