 Digges was born in Ranelagh, Dublin in 1879, the child of James Digges and Catherine Forsythe.He became acquainted with theatre directors William and Frank Fay and took an interest in acting.He joined W. G. Fay's Irish National Dramatic Company, along with others such as Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh, James H. Cousins, Fred Ryan and Maire Quinn (who became his wife).