4. Lola Montez
While Lola Montez is not her real name, it is the moniker that made this lady stand out. Born Marie Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert in 1821, this young lady became well known for her drive and fiery temper. Her rough upbringing led her to make spur-of-the-moment decisions, including getting married at the age of 16. She separated from her husband five years later and did the next logical thing- became a stage dancer. Marie arrived in London and began pursuing her dancing career under the name Lola Montez, the “Spanish Dancer.” Funny thing was, she was actually Irish.
Her career managed to grow and she became a companion to many wealthy men. Her most famous liaison began in 1846 when she became mistress to Ludwig I of Bavaria. He granted her a title an annual annuity which angered some of his counterparts. As time passed it became more clear that Lola had a large amount of influence over the king and this caused conflict within the government. Her liberal influences led to Ludwig’s abdication and resulted in her fleeing the country. Lola pursued both her dancing career and other marriages in the United States and Australia but ultimately died of tuberculosis at the age of 39. Her life has been the subject of many plays and stage productions since the early 20th century.