7 things you didn't know about... Mata Hari

Mata Hari, real name Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, is a famous figure of the 20th century. Dancer, courtesan, prostitute, spy... her tumultuous life is worthy of the greatest adventure novels! We can't resist revealing 7 facts about this free-spirited, whimsical icon, still shrouded in mystery...

1. Code name? MATA HARI

Mata Hari is not her real name, but the pseudonym she chose for her stage persona. It means "Eye of the Day" in Malay, a tribute to the island of Java, Indonesia, where she spent part of her youth. Introduced to the local dances and language, she developed a unique style that would soon seduce Europe. Mata Hari already knew how to cultivate mystery and the art of storytelling to fascinate her audience...

2. Quite an act... 

Before she became famous as a spy, Mata Hari was a renowned cabaret dancer, known for her provocative oriental dance-inspired performances. She made her debut in Paris, and the success of her show led to appearances in all the major European capitals, where she acquired fame and lovers. She became a symbol of the Belle Époque: a modern woman who, in her famous striptease act, lifted the taboo on nudity in a Europe that was still very puritanical...

3. Staging your life... a vocation!

From her childhood to her adventures as a spy, Mata Hari has a knack for inventing her life. It's said that in her youth in The Hague, she told her ecstatic friends that she was a baroness with a thousand and one riches. Later, when she travels with her troupe as a dancer, she doesn't hesitate to tell them that she is the daughter of an Indian princess and that the priests of Shiva, the Hindu god to whom she dedicates her act, have initiated her into secret cults and rites. Mata Hari's love of acting and storytelling is definitely second nature... 

4. She didn't mince her words

Mata Hari's gift for affabulation wasn't the only quality that made her a spy: she also spoke several languages, which enabled her to integrate easily into social circles in Europe and France. It was also this asset that seduced the French... English... and German secret services! Much more than a double agent!

5. Spy with a thousand controversies

Accused of spying for Germany during the First World War, her trial generated much controversy. At the end of the war, Mata Hari's much-publicized trial served almost as an outlet. Today, there are still many doubts about the role she played in the war, as sources are contradictory and numerous. The mystery remains... 

6. Loving... without counting the cost! 

At a time when freedom of love was a luxury reserved for men, Mata Hari lived out her passions with irresistible charm. A daring seductress, she multiplied her liaisons, each romance becoming a new chapter in her romantic life. Ignoring judgment and convention, she embodied the flamboyant spirit of a woman who dared to love without hindrance.

7. Entering the legend

Mata Hari's fictional life has inspired countless works of art, literature, film and even video games! More than a book a year is published about the spy in the decade following her death, and she figures in the memoirs of renowned European personalities. Today, this mythical woman is still the talk of the town.

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