The real-life Q from James Bond is a woman, says MI6 boss

There is a real-life Q, and she’s a woman, the head of MI6 has confirmed.

Sir Alex Younger revealed the news to attendees at the Women In IT Awards in London in a bid for more female recruits into the Secret Intelligence Service.

“The real-life Q is looking forward to meeting you and I’m pleased to report that the real-life Q is a woman,” he said.

The role of Q in the Bond movies has always been played by men, most recently by Ben Whishaw, and most famously by Desmond Llewelyn in 17 films.

Younger added that a shift in perception of the intelligence services is needed, due to its portrayal in the movies.

“It leads to a stereotype which is of a particular kind or a particular sort of person that will join MI6 – whether they’re really posh or going to Oxford or whatever it is. I’m none of those things by the way,” he said.

“And the issue for me is that stands in the way of something that I regard as being so important which is that we can reach into every community in Britain and make sure that we get the people that are the best, regardless of their background.”

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