James Bond May be an international man of mystery, but one of the bigger mysteries of the popular franchise is if M is based on a real person. M is the anchor throughout the 007 series as the head of the British intelligence agency MI6, assigning Bond his missions. Rumors have circulated for decades about who the character in the Ian Fleming James Bond books and subsequent films is based on. The simple answer is that M is Most likely a culmination of several people the author knew who were authority figures in British intelligence.
Ian Fleming himself served in the British Naval Intelligence Division in World War II and drew great inspiration from his time in service to cultivate the James Bond franchise that has stood the test of time. Judi Dench may be the most famous M of recent films, but M is based on multiple supervisors and intelligence officers Fleming served under and learned from. Fleming wrote the Bond books imagining himself as 007, while M helped him become one of the greatest spymasters in fictional history. This is what M is known for doing in real life: turning brothers into bonds.
Maxwell Knight is speculated to be one possible inspiration for James Bond’s M
Could the BBC broadcaster and secret spymaster be the real-life B?
When looking for clues about who M is based on, it would be reasonable to assume that the real person is also named M. This is already one point in Maxwell Knight’s corner. According to country fileThe BBC history broadcaster is likely the Inspiration for James Bond’s M. Knight led a double life, appearing on TV and radio as a broadcaster specializing in natural history while leading undercover operations for MI5 for decades. Rumor has it he is also nicknamed “M.”
“When looking for clues as to what M is based on, it would be reasonable to assume that the real person is also named M.”
Another great hint is Henry Hemming’s 2017 book, Agent B: The Life and Spies of MI5’s Maxwell KnightWhat details how he changed the way the national security organization operated and even supported having women spies. It took a while, though No time to die Finally caught up to this fact, With Ana de Armas and Lashana Lynch in agent roles, though there was an unfortunate backlash. It’s no wonder Maxwell Knight’s support of women in espionage helped cast Dench in the role of M for over twenty years.
Colin Gubbins is another potential real-life B who influenced Ian Fleming
Colin Gubbins and Bond author Ian Fleming worked on a secret WW2 raid together
Colin Gubbins, who was in charge of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in WW2, was probably another inspiration for M.. According to The Yorkshire Post, Grubbins and Fleming worked closely together during a dangerous wartime raid in 1941 & 1942, in which they stole enemy ships near the Spanish island of Fernando Po. This may sound familiar to anyone who watched Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson’s latest film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, In which Cary Elwes plays Colin Gubbins, and is called M for short.
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Author Brian Lett also draws the conclusion that Gubbins was the inspiration for M in his book, Ian Fleming and SOE’s Operation POSTMASTER: The Untold Top Secret Story. He speaks to Gubbins strong leadership during the controversial raid, which helped to mold Ian Fleming to lie about Britain’s involvement in the operations on an international stage. Just like these James Bond Books and movies, their missions are carried out in secret. It’s no secret that Gubbins is part of the inspiration for M.
The mystery behind M’s inspiration makes the mythology of James Bond even more intriguing
Being based on real life war heroes makes for compelling cinema
Bernard Lee, Robert Brown, John Huston, David Niven, Edward Fox, Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes have all given life to the serious and commanding MI6 leader M since the first James Bond film, Dr. NoIn 1962. James Bond may be a superstar spy, but the films wouldn’t work without 007 with this important guiding force. Ian Fleming Bassing M on some real wartime leaders and heroes just makes the character even more vital to the films and makes the mythology more intriguing.
Fans still believe Daniel Craig should have returned as James Bond for another film, but regardless of who plays Bond or B, as long as filmmakers continue to include their strong boss and messy spy dynamic, the 007 franchise will still be as compelling as the Real. -Live WW2 Bond and M the stories are based on. It is even more fascinating to know the real-life people M is based on ordered dangerous missions and risk their own lives. James Bond May have a license to kill, but it is M who gave him that license.