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Stella Rimington
Stella Rimington, author of Illegal Action

Stella Rimington, author of "Illegal Action"

When Dame Judi Dench plays super-cool spy chief “M” in the James Bond movies, she’s tough as nails and has a woman’s intuition.

When Dame Stella Rimington took over Britain’s super-secret MI5 security service, she was the first woman ever to hold the top spy post — and a tough, cool player herself. Dench’s model, we’re told, for “M.”

Now Stella Rimington is out of the spy game, but still very much in the world, writing thrillers that catch the new tang of Russian oligarchs and post-Cold War skulduggery.

This hour, On Point: Spy master turned novelist, Dame Stella Rimington.

- Tom Ashbrook

*  *  *

Guests:

Dame Stella Rimington, former Director General of Britain’s MI5 Security Service, from 1992-1996, and author of the new novel “Illegal Action,” her third spy thriller featuring MI5 agent Liz Carlyle.

Andrew Cook, expert on the history of espionage and author of “M: MI5’s First Spymaster” and other books.

 

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Listener comments
  • It was such a stroke of luck that I heard Stella Rimington on NPR this past week….what an excellent interview she gave and her books are riveting…thanks to both you and her.
    Margaret Hoplight

    Posted by margaret hoplight, on January 4th, 2009 at 5:38 pm EST
  • http://www.stellarimington.blogspot.com

    See the above website for unmissable information upon Stella Rimington.

    Posted by Jenny Bush, on January 9th, 2009 at 9:32 am EST
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