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 sparked significant media interest after Stirling shared details of the private gesture she made following her mother's death.

She stressed that the act was a private form of mourning and not something she felt required justification.

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 significant, and Stirling has long paid tribute to her influence.

Stirlng is also expected to take part at an upcoming event in Tisbury.