Which actress first played M in the James Bond film series?

Judi Dench first played M in the James Bond film series in GoldenEye.

GoldenEye, released in 1995, introduced Pierce Brosnan as James Bond and recast the head of MI6 as a woman. Dench’s M was initially openly skeptical of Bond, calling him a “sexist, misogynist dinosaur,” which established a sharper professional dynamic than many earlier Bond films.

Dench continued as M through Brosnan’s remaining films and Daniel Craig’s first seven Bond appearances. Her final appearance was in Skyfall, where M dies during the film’s climax. The role was then taken by Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory.

A common mix-up is confusing Dench’s M with Miss Moneypenny, another recurring MI6 character. M is the codename for the head of the Secret Intelligence Service, while Moneypenny traditionally serves as M’s secretary.