Stella Rimington, the first woman to have managed the British MI5 intelligence agency who inspired Judi Dench for her role in James Bond, died at the age of 90.
It is impossible to deny the influence that Stella Rimington had on the character of M, director of Secret Intelligence Service of the James Bond films. In this regard, Madame Rimington confided: ” My daughters went to see the film and came back saying that she looked like me exactly, which was quite true ».
A dizzying ascent
Stella Rimington was born in London in 1935 but, following the air bombings of the Second World War, she was obliged to leave the city for the Essex with her family. Subsequently, she studied English at the University of Edinburgh and then worked as an archivist. Stella Rimington married John in 1963 and then her husband’s diplomat’s career pushed the couple to settle in India. It is there that it all starts: Stella becomes the assistant of a senior official linked to the service of MI5.
On his return to London in 1969, Stella worked in counterintelligence, counter-sebversion and the fight against terrorism; But it was through her great determination that she bypassing the rules that reserved the privileged posts for men and that she gradually rises until becoming the first woman at the head of the United Kingdom intelligence service.
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On this point, Ken McCallum, current head of MI5, said: ” She broke old barriers and embodied the importance of diversity in leadership“. After leaving her post as director of MI5 in 1996, Stella Rimington took the reins of the Marks & Spencer store chain. In this regard, she says: “My know-how will allow me to bring an additional dimension to this company. ».
A transition to his career towards new horizons
After leaving the MI5 in 1996, Rimington converted into the business world by taking the head of the store chain Marks & Spencer. The same year, she was also appointed lady Commander of the Order of the Bath during New Year’s honors in 1996. In this regard, she said with irony that her intelligence skills will bring ” an additional dimension »To the company. Always full of surprises, the talented Rimington published her first novel “At Risk” in 2004, where we can follow the investigation by Liz Carlyle, an intelligence officer of the MI5, about an imminent terrorist threat. She will continue her work as a writer until she was appointed, in 2011, to be part of the jury of the brilliant literary prize Man Booker Prize.
What is the MI5?
The MI5 (Military Intelligence Section 5) is an intelligence and British security service whose headquarters are based in London in the Westminster district. MI5 works with other UK security agencies to investigate and prevent various dangers. This Rensiegnement Service works in partnership with the External Security Agency (SIS), the headquarters of government communications (GCHQ) and other ordering agencies.
MI5 agents work under the mandate of the Minister of the Interior, Parliament or independent commissions for the most intrusive activities. MI5 uses different methods such as directed monitoring which includes observation of a suspect, interception of communications such as telephone calls or emails or even intrusive surveillance.
An extraordinary exhibition on the secrets of the MI5 in London
From April 9 to September 28the British national archives building opens its doors for a unique exhibition on the history of MI5 as evidenced by Steve Burgess, affirming “This is the first time that the MI5 actively has participated in an exhibition.” Thus, for the very first time, visitors will have free access to the original documents of this legendary institution, thanks to a partnership between the security service and the national archives. Among the works on display, visitors will be able to discover spies passports, secret letters and all kinds of declassified documents.
