NYT > World News Stella Rimington, First Woman to Lead U.K.’s MI5, Dies at 90 Par :Adam Nossiter and Lynsey Chutel 5 août 2025 à 21:04 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. © Dave Caulkin/Associated PressMs. Rimington in 2004. After retirement, she wrote spy novels.