Stella Rimington

Stella Rimington, DCB ( born May 13, 1935 in London) was from 1992 to 1996 director of the British domestic intelligence agency MI5. It served as a template for the secret boss " M" in the James Bond films from 1995. Meanwhile, the British operated as a writer.

Life and career

Stella Rimington studied archives in Edinburgh. 1963 her husband was transferred to the British High Commission in Delhi in India, where they followed him, and in 1965 started as a secretary at the British secret service. In 1969 she returned with her ​​husband back to London and made the domestic intelligence career. She has worked in all areas, such as subversion, espionage and terrorism. While she was active in the anti - espionage department there, among other things, 1978, the umbrella murder occurred.

Beginning of the 1980s, she became head of the Department of F2, which was responsible in particular for the defense of IRA bombings. In 1983, her department the task to infiltrate the British trade unions and spy on the disarmament movement. In 1992 she was appointed as the first woman to the post of Director of the Federal Security Service MI5. She was also the world's first woman to head a secret. During her tenure, the main tasks of the MI5 were in the counterintelligence.

Since its adoption in retirement she is active as a writer and mainly writes thrillers. Was published in 2001 her autobiography Open Secret, which became a bestseller in England.

In early 2009 she attracted public attention when she criticized the general anti -terror strategy sharply: " We live in fear and a police state. Just wanted to reach the terrorists. " " The government intimidates people, in order to pass laws that curtail their freedoms. " The British government explained that it would continue to maintain the balance between surveillance and respect for the privacy of citizens.

Stella Rimington has two daughters and lives separated from her husband since 1984.

Template for film character

Rimington served shortly after taking over the management of the MI5 as a template for the secret boss " M"; a film character in the James Bond movies, which was depicted as a woman since 1995 and served as head of the fictional British foreign intelligence service MI6. James Bond's boss " M" from 1995 was played by the British theater and film actress Judi Dench.

Dench took initially, the "real" director, Stella Rimington as a model for the actor's portrayal of her role. This was made ​​possible by the British government in the history of the Secret Service gave the early 1990s for the first time the name of the MI5 Director- known and there was even a photo of publication Rimington 1993 at their workplace.

Book publications (selection)

Autobiography

• Open secret. The autobiography of the former Director - General of MI5. Hutchinson, London, 2001, ISBN 0-09-943672-8. (English)

Novels

• Silence danger. Dt. First Edition, Diana -Verlag, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-453-35008-1. (Eng. translator's; engl Original Title: At risk. )
• Quiet betrayal. Dt. First Edition, Diana -Verlag, Munich 2007, ISBN 3-453-43016-6. (Eng. translator's; engl Original title: Secret Asset. )
• Foray. Dt. First Edition, Diana -Verlag, Munich 2009, ISBN 978-3-453-35266-7. (Eng. translator's; engl Original Title: Illegal action. )
• Fear game. Dt. First Edition, Diana -Verlag, München 2010, ISBN 978-3-453-35461-6. (translated v. Usch fungus, OT: Deadline )
• Present Danger. Quercus Publishing, London 2009, ISBN 978-1-84724-789-6 (not yet translated).
• Rip Tide. Bloomsbury Publishing, London 2011, ISBN 978-1-4088-2139-8 (not yet translated).