
Sir Richard Billing Dearlove, one-time head of MI6, indicated that, during his nearly 40 years with the agency, he'd never seen said authorization used. The British Foreign Secretary has the ability to grant "Class Seven authorization," which allows for "lethal force" when necessary. In the UK, the Intelligence Services Act of 1994 gives some leeway to British intelligence officers as long as they act with proper authorization - a potential loophole to the preferred aversion to taking lives.

There are some instances when death among spies occurs. One-time CIA agent Emily Brandwin called killing "a big no-no at the Agency." Spies are not typically violent and, in some instances, they're acutely aware that taking a life would only escalate tensions between potentially hostile countries. In the United States, the same holds true. The job of the service is to obtain intelligence to inform British government policy and help prevent, for example, terrorist attacks and in doing that we work under UK law. The work of the service is overseen both politically and legally so there's absolutely no room in that for killing people. According to a former member of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), a "license to kill" is a "complete myth." He continued: Typically, spies don't take out anyone, much less with reckless abandon. The Reality: The myth of a "license to kill" is largely placed in the hands of author Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. They can dispatch anyone and everyone who gets in their way. The Movie Version: Spies are sent into dangerous situations without limitations on what they can do to accomplish a mission.

Proceed with caution - busting one of these myths might just upend everything you thought you knew about spies.

Real spies have weighed in on some of the realities of their work, taking on ridiculous beliefs perpetuated by Hollywood. Danger around every corner, complete secrecy, and the ability to kill at will - they're all associated with the quintessential spy life.

Whether comedic, action-packed, or tales of thrilling intrigue, movies about spies are full of tropes that show up over and over again. In fact, many traditional spy tropes have been so ingrained into popular culture that they may never disappear from Hollywood storytelling. A contemporary spy movie, on the other hand, might play on an outdated yet popular idea about spying simply to appeal to an audience. Movies about spies during the Cold War, for example, may contain traditional spy tropes for good reason. Spycraft is constantly changing thanks to new technologies, shifting political alliances, and perceived threats.
