Homonym: Margaretha Zelle (Spy)
Margaretha Zelle, better known as Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan born on August 7, 1876, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. She gained fame in the early 20th century for her captivating performances, which combined elements of dance and theatrical storytelling, often drawing on her imagined persona as a Javanese princess.
During World War I, Mata Hari was accused of being a spy for Germany and was arrested by the French in 1917. Despite her claims of innocence, she was tried and executed by firing squad on October 15, 1917, becoming a symbol of the intrigue and espionage of the era.