Stella Rimington, First Female MI5 Chief, Dies at 90

Rimington was the first female head of the British intelligence service MI5 and is considered a role model for the female role as M in the "James Bond" films, played by the British actress Judi Dench.

Rimington led MI5 between 1992 and 1996 and was the first intelligence chief to be named publicly, as MI5 heads were never announced or photographed before her appointment.

"As the first female head of any intelligence service in the world, Stella broke down barriers and was an example of the importance of diversity in leadership", says the current MI5 chief Ken McCallum in a statement.