“Revolution is but thought carried into action.” —Emma Goldman

“All creative people want to do the unexpected.” —Hedy Lamarr

“If the career you have chosen has some unexpected inconvenience, console yourself by reflecting that no career is without them.” —Jane Fonda

For Women’s History Month, you might expect to hear about the same Notable Women, but what about women who are famous for one thing, and yet are accomplished in multiple arenas? Many modern women are familiar with juggling different aspects of their lives. Let’s take a look at a few famous women who have accomplished great feats for things other than what they are commonly known for…

The National Women’s History Museum’s gallery Clandestine Women: Spies in American History explores the contributions of women such as Julia Child, who, before she became internationally known as a leading chef, was a World War II era spy.  Other female spies that parlayed their status as entertainers so that they could gather intelligence include Josephine Baker and Mata Hari. Harriet Tubman, best known for organizing the Underground Railroad trips to free slaves, “also served with the Union Army in South Carolina, organizing a spy network and even leading raids and spy expeditions."

Actress Hedy Lamarr, best known for her roles on the silver screen, was also a co-inventor of a radio-controlled torpedo electronic guidance system. Although she eventually received credit for her role in the invention, she never saw any money from its application. I hope you enjoy browsing some of these links to unexpected or little known lives of women. Stay tuned for some links to unexpected lives of women authors.