She stood on the stage of the Fortune Theatre in men’s clothes and smoked a pipe in front of the audience. In 1611. In London. When women weren’t even allowed on stage. Moll Cutpurse was a pickpocket, forger, fence for stolen goods and possibly a highwayman. She was arrested repeatedly. She was hauled before the courts. She was forced to do public penance at St Paul’s Cross — and turned up drunk. She outlived almost every man who tried to stop her. She died in her bed at 74. On her own terms.
Interesting Fact Moll Cutpurse was so notorious she inspired two plays written during her own lifetime — one of them while she was still actively criminal. She reportedly attended the opening night of a play about herself and heckled the audience.
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