Stella Rimington, the first ever female director of MI5, has died aged 90. The extraordinary public servant ran the agency from 1992 and 1996 and was the first leader of the organisation to be publicly named. It is widely acknowledged that she served as the inspiration for Judi Dench's 'M' in the James Bond franchise.

Stella Rimington, the first female chief of Britain's MI5 intelligence agency and later a successful thriller writer, has died, her family said Monday. She was 90.