Widely regarded as the inspiration for the recast of the James Bond character “M,” she was the first British spy chief to be publicly named and photographed.

She was credited as the inspiration for Judi Dench’s M in James Bond films and was the first publicly named chief of Britain’s domestic intelligence service.

Dame Stella Rimington, MI5's first female director general, has died at the age of 90, her family has said. Dame Stella, who headed the security service from 1992 to 1996, was widely credited as being the model for Dame Judi Dench's M in the James Bond films.