MI6 chief reveals the real-life James Bond’s Q is a woman in bid for more female recruits
The tech wiz has always been portrayed as a man in the famous spy films
HIS inventive gadgets for James Bond made Q famous - but the head of MI6 has revealed the real tech wiz is actually a woman.
In an appeal to have more diversity in the ranks of spies, Sir Alex Younger, chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, revealed the real-life equivalent to the famed movie role, which has only been played by men, is a woman.
Younger, who is traditionally known as C, used the revelation to appeal for more women to apply to join the MI6.
Speaking to the Women in IT Awards, he said: "The real-life Q is looking forward to meeting you and I'm pleased to report that the real-life Q is a woman."
The spymaster, speaking at the event at held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday, said he wanted to dispel the stereotypes of "posh" spies, instead appealing for more diversity.
Despite acknowledging he was wearing a tuxedo for the event, Sir Alex said that the movie portrayals of spies need to be overcome.
He said: "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.
"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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Q, the inventor of Bond's gadgets, has been played by at least four men in the films, most recently by Ben Whishaw.
The fictional Bond character is the head of the Q Division, the fictional research and development division of the British Secret Service.
The role was most notably played by Demond Llewelyn, who played the character in every official film from 'From Russia with Love', except 'Live and Let Die', until his death in 1999.
Q, which stands for Quartermaster, passed over gadgets to 007 including a homing beacon, voice changer and explosive fountain pen.
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