10 Badass Women Spies from the Sisterhood of Secrecy

Move over, James Bond

Published 5 months ago in Wow

James Bond. Jason Bourne. Ethan Hunt.

The majority of pop culture's beloved spies might be men, but the reality of espionage is a lot more female than meets the eye. Just ask Josephine Baker, Krystyna Skarbek, and the whole host of women whose covert skills changed the world.

From Harriet Tubman to Julia Child's pre-TV gig, here are 10 badass women spies from the sisterhood of secrecy.

1
Harriet Tubman
“Harriet Tubman, in addition to organizing the Underground Railroad, served with the U.S. Army as a scout, spy, nurse and soldier during the Civil War, leading a raid with the African-American 2nd South Carolina regiment that freed over 700 slaves.”

2
Krystyna Skarbek
The British Secret Service’s first female field operative, Poland-born Krystyna Skarbek was dubbed the "bravest of the brave” by reporter Alistair Horne. Alongside her many awards, including the George Medal, Skarbek famously inspired the character of Vesper Lynd in the James Bond series.

3
Sandy Grimes
During her 26 years with the CIA, Sandy Grimes was part of the team that uncovered the infamous Soviet Mole, Aldrich Ames. Her work inspired ABC’s “The Assets.”
4
Julia Child
“Before Julia Child became a world-renowned chef, she was a research assistant for Secret Intelligence in WWII. In the precursor to the CIA, she helped develop a shark repellant for life vests and mines that is still used today.”

5
Jonna Mendez
Often compared to Q in the James Bond series, Jonna Mendez served as the CIA’s Chief of Disguise, earning the Intelligence Commendation Medal in 1993. She once helped create a pair of glasses with a dose of cyanide hidden in the earpiece.
6
Virginia Hall
“Virginia Hall [was] an American woman who worked as a secret agent in France during WWII by supporting, organizing, arming, and training the French Resistance. She was reportedly considered ‘the most dangerous of all Allied spies’ by the Gestapo.”
7
Violette Szabo
“After her husband died during WW2, Violette Szabo joined the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) and assisted a French intelligence circuit to sabotage infrastructure and surveil German activities. She was captured in 1944 and executed February 5, 1945 at the age of just 23.”

8
Marlene Dietrich
Born in Germany, Marlene Dietrich aided the United States during World War II, recording propaganda meant to demoralize German Troops and helping raise upwards of a million dollars through aiding war bond purchases. These efforts earned her the highly-coveted Medal of Freedom in 1947.
9
Noor Inayat Khan
“Angered by the persecution of Jews, Noor Inayat Khan, born to Indian Muslims & a descendent of Tipu Sultan, spied for the British in occupied France. After leaking crucial information, she was betrayed & eventually caught on Sept 13, 1944 and executed at Dachau Camp near Munich. She was 30.”
10
Josephine Baker
The world may have known Josephine Baker as a legendary performer, dancer, and movie star, but to the French Resistance, she had another claim to fame: Serving as one of their secret agents during World War II. Using her superstardom as a cover, Baker would attend enemy parties at Japan and Italy’s embassies, scribbling overheard intel on her hands and even pinning notes to her undergarments. “My notes would have been highly compromising had they been discovered, but who would dare search Josephine Baker to the skin?” she reportedly wrote of her espionage efforts.