11. Nell Gwynn
Miss Eleanor Gwynn was a famous prostitute turned actress turned mistress during the 17th century. Nell came from relative poverty before being discovered as a talent for the stage. She blazed her own trail by making it into the London acting scene at all. During this time, theater productions did not allow women on the stage. If a production required a female character, a man played the part. Ironically enough it was her exposure to the salacious and seedy world of prostitution that exposed her to the theater in the first place. Once she gained exposure as an actress, she also spent time as a mistress to many of the London elite. None of her lovers was so famous as the king himself, Charles II. The previously mentioned Barbara Palmer was also his mistress.
Nell became a mistress to the king in 1688 and during that time there was less competition for his affections. By 1670, Nell became pregnant and gave the king a son; not that he was short on those. He already had 7 other sons by 5 different women. Nell returned to the stage for a short time before giving birth to another son in 1671. She had a good relationship with the king and that translated into houses and money for her, and titles for her children. She died 2 years after the king of complications from two strokes as well as syphilis. In the end, her reputation for her acting prowess outweighed her more outlandish actions. The world of acting hails her as one of the first successful actresses in history.