299 Women Who Shaped World History

Oprah Winfrey

Born: January 29, 1954, Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S. Oprah Winfrey is an American talk-show host and actor, whose nationally syndicated programme became one of the most popular on television. A major factor in the success of the show is Winfrey’s ability to connect emotionally with her guests.Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to unmarried parents who separated after […]

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Greta Garbo

Born: September 18, 1905, Stockholm, SwedenDied: April 15, 1990, New York, U.S. Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American motion-picture actor, noted for her beauty and her reticence, who became a virtual recluse while still at the height of her popularity. Born Greta Gustaffson in Stockholm, she was educated at the Royal Dramatic Theater’s school of acting.

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Bette Davis

Born: April 5, 1908, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.Died: Oct. 6, 1989, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France Bette Davis was an American motion-picture actor, renowned for the intensity and controlled flamboyance of her acting and for her vivid portrayals of eccentric heroines and diabolical schemers. Born Ruth Elizabeth Davis in Lowell, Massachusetts, she decided in high school to become an

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Lucille Ball

Born: Aug. 6, 1911, Celoron, near Jamestown, New York, U.S.Died: April 26, 1989, Los Angeles, California Lucille Ball was an American motion-picture and television actor and comedian, famous for portraying the character Lucy Ricardo in the popular television programme “I Love Lucy” (1951-1957). Born Lucille Desiree Ball in Celeron, New York, she began acting at

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Zoe

Born: c. 978, , Constantinople [now Istanbul, Turkey]Died: 1050, ConstantinopleZoe was a Byzantine empress, by marriage from 1028 and in her own right from 1042.The daughter of the emperor Constantine VIII, Zoe was married to the heir presumptive, Romanus III Argyrus, in 1028 and became empress consort upon his elevation to the throne the same

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Wu Hou

Born: AD 625, ChinaDied: December 16, 705, ChinaWu Hou rose from concubinage to become empress of China during the Tang dynasty (618-907). She ruled effectively for many years, the last 15 (690-705) in her own name. Wu Zhao entered the palace of the second Tang emperor, Taizong (ruled 626-649), as a junior concubine in 638,

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Frances Willard

Born: Sept 28, 1839, Churchville, New York, U.S.Died: Feb 18, 1898, New York, N.Y. Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard was a American educator and reformer, born in Churchville, New York, and educated at Northwestern Female College. In 1874, she gave up a successful teaching career to become secretary of the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).

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Victoria

Born: May 24, 1819, Kensington Palace, London, EnglandDied: January 22, 1901, Osborne,near Cowes, Isle of Wight Victoria was the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1837-1901) and empress of India (1876-1901).Born Alexandrina Victoria on May 24, 1819, in Kensington Palace, London, Victoria was the daughter of Victoria Mary Louisa, daughter of

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Theodora

Born: c. 497Died: June 28, 548, Constantinople [now Istanbul, Turkey]Theodora was a Byzantine empress (527-48), wife of Emperor Justinian I, probably born in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). According to the Byzantine historian Procopius, her father was a trainer of circus animals, and she was an actor and a courtesan before marrying Justinian in 523. Four years

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Helen Suzman

Born: November 7, 1917, Germiston, South Africa Helen Suzman is a South African politician and outspoken opponent of apartheid, South Africa’s system of racial separation. Born Helen Gavronsky in Germiston, in what is now Gauteng province, northeastern South Africa, of Jewish immigrant parents, she was educated at the Parktown Convent until 1933 and then attended

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