Spy chief who inspired Bond's M

WIDELY credited as the inspiration for Dame Judi Dench’s M in the James Bond films, trailblazer Dame Stella Rimington was the first female head of MI5.

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"Even though there were all of these tweedy guys with pipes, I still thought the essence of the Cold War and spies and stuff was fun, going around listening to people’s telephones and opening their mail," she said.