Stella Rimington, Britain’s first female Director General of MI5, who pioneered a more transparent era for the intelligence service, has passed away at the age of 90. Rimington, who led MI5 from 1992 to 1996, became the agency's first publicly named chief and later authored a memoir titled Open Secret, detailing her career in the once highly secretive organisation. After her tenure, she wrote several spy novels and is widely believed to have inspired Judi Dench's portrayal of the no-nonsense yet witty spymaster 'M' in the James Bond films.

“She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her cherished family and dogs, holding on fiercely to the life she loved until her final breath,” her family said in a statement reported by local media. In recognition of her service, Rimington was made a Dame in 1996, one of the UK's highest honours. She joined MI5 in 1969, serving in areas such as counter-subversion and counter-terrorism. During her leadership, MI5 played a greater role in combating Irish republican militant activities, as highlighted on MI5’s official website.

Ken McCallum, MI5’s current Director General, praised Rimington as a trailblazer: “As the first openly acknowledged female head of any intelligence agency globally, Dame Stella shattered long-standing barriers, becoming a symbol of the vital need for diversity in leadership.” Rimington advocated for greater openness in MI5’s operations, seeking to soften its Cold War-era image. “While secrecy is essential for effectiveness, it doesn’t mean we must be an entirely secret organisation,” she stated in a 1994 public lecture. “Secrecy should not exist for its own sake.”

Hinting at her future in literature, Rimington opened that same lecture by referencing Britain’s rich spy fiction legacy and the public's fascination with intelligence work. “It’s thrilling material that has spawned many myths and some wild speculation about our activities,” she said. “I confess, I approach tonight’s task of lifting the veil with some caution. I suspect the fiction might be more entertaining than the reality.”