M - Judi Dench

Dench's encore performance as M is as impressive as her debut in 'GoldenEye'. M argues against the British strategy of using a military strike against the Chinese. She is given 48 hours to get to the bottom of the crisis and she assigns Bond to the job. Although she normally disapproves of his womanizing, ironically she orders him to seduce Paris Carver and pump her for information. There is a brief, but wonderfully written, scene in which Bond and M have a no-nonsense conversation while speeding through London in her limousine. Dench plays the role with enormous skill and makes the part he own, despite the indelible image of Bernard Lee.

Other Allies in Tomorrow Never Dies

Jack Wade

Miss Moneypenny

Q

Admiral Roebuck

Robinson