Last week saw the release of the highly anticipated action thriller, Atomic Blonde, starring Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron and Scots actor, James McAvoy. 

It's a spy movie set in the late 1980s with lots and lots of fighting and a throwback soundtrack that will please music buffs everywhere. 

Reviews have been positive, glowing even, with some hinting that the possibility of a female James Bond is now one step closer. 

But some sharp cinema-goers have been quick to point out that Theron's character, Lorraine Broughton, bears a striking resemblance to British actress, Glynis Barber from her Dempsey & Makepeace days. 

Glasgow Times:

Glynis Barber (left) as Harriet Makepeace and Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde. Picture credit: Twitter

Several users shared pictures of the two actresses, comparing their similarities: 

Dempsey and Makepeace ran on ITV from 1985–86 and starred American actor, Michael Brandon as tough New York cop, James Dempsey who was transferred to London's elite SI10 police unit and partnered with Detective Sergeant Harriet Makepeace (Glynis Barber).

Feisty Makepeace had a unique sense of style and an arsenal of fighting skills, breaking the mould for the portrayal of female cops on British telly forever. 

READ MORE: Film review of Atomic Blonde (15)

And in Atomic Blonde, it's not only the physical appearance of Charlize Theron that is spookily similar to Harry Makepeace, but also one of the film's early action sequence's.

Eagle-eyed Twitter user @slyquinn shared two YouTube video clips comparing a backseat fight in a car from Dempsey and Makepeace with one from the movie.  

This clip is from the season 3 episode, The Burning part two, which aired in September 1986.

And this is from Atomic Blonde, Chapter 3: Major Tom (2017)

Deliberate or sheer coincidence? Whatever the reasoning behind the costume and styling for Theron's character in the movie, it's definitely got social media buzzing. 

READ MORE: Film review of Atomic Blonde (15)

Ms Barber responded to those comparing them on her official Twitter page: "I think I'm going to have to go and see Atomic Blonde to see what everyone's talking about! #chanellingmakepeae," she wrote. 

Incidentally, Dempsey and Makepeace married in real life in 1989 and Michael Brandon is currently performing his biographical-comedy solo show, Off-Ramps, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, for more details, CLICK HERE.