“M” in James Bond spy thrillers is actually “C” in real life
The MI6 head in James Bond films uses the letter “M”, but he/she is known as “C” in real life- its first leader, Sir Mansfield Cumming, signed everything “C” and all subsequent heads continued using “C”. Today’s MI6 leaders sign every document with “C” in green ink.
So, the current director of Britain’s MI6 would not be considered “M”, as in James Bond’s MI6. “M” in the James Bond world stands for “mission,” and the MI6 head is named “M” simply because he/she is the one that gives undercover operatives their mission orders.
James Bond gets all his top-secret instructions from “M”, who is usually portrayed as a grumpy pipe smoke who is quite domineering over 007. As a Bond fan, I enjoy reading books and watching films of this relationship between the two. Ian Fleming did a wonderful job in having their opposite personalities bounce off each other.
Take a journey of espionage and intrigue with CIA spymaster Corey Pearson in MISSION OF VENGEANCE!
Interestingly, Fleming based the character of both “M” and of 007 on a number of people he knew who commanded various sections of British intelligence. M has appeared in the novels by Fleming and seven continuation authors, as well as appearing in twenty-four films, and has been portrayed by four actors: Bernard Lee, Robert Brown, Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes.
Here is a neat YouTube video entitled EVERY “M” SCENE COMPILATION. Enjoy!
Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thriller: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.