16 Lesser-Known Historical Figures Who Deserve Their Own Biopic

Who Was She? Lyudmila Pavlichenko was a Soviet sniper during WWII. When And Where: 1940s in the Soviet Union Notable Achievements: One of the most valuable weapons in the Soviet Union's arsenal during WWII was Lyudmila Pavlichenko. A sharpshooter from a young age, Pavlichenko became a sniper for the Soviet army in 1941. Her aim was extremely accurate: She fatally shot no less than 309 Nazi soldiers and earned the nickname "Lady Death." Her success came at a cost, however: Her battle experience gave her PTSD. The Soviet Union also used Pavlichenko as a propaganda tool. Officials sent her on a publicity tour in the United States, where she befriended First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and brushed off the press's sexist questions. Title Of Her Biopic: Lady Death

Who Was He? Joe Medicine Crow, a decorated veteran and revered elder among the Crow, became his community's last war chief during World War II. When And Where: 1920s-2010s in the United States and Europe Notable Achievements: Joe Medicine Crow's exploits during WWII earned him the status of "War Chief," making him the last Crow to achieve that honor. Medicine Crow earned the title because he completed specific tasks while fighting Nazis in the European theater of war: He touched an enemy, robbed an enemy of his weapon, stole horses, and led a group of fighters. His war exploits were just part of his incredible story. Though the war interrupted his studies, Medicine Crow continued documenting and preserving Crow heritage and history after the war ended in 1945. Title Of His Biopic: A Valorous Heart

Who Was He? Jonas Salk was a scientist who helped develop a vaccine for polio. When And Where: 1950s in the United States Notable Achievements: At the beginning of the 20th century, polio was one of the most feared diseases. By the end of the century, it had been "eliminated" in the United States - all thanks to a vaccine. Jonas Salk, a scientist based at the University of Pittsburgh, led a team of scientists who developed the vaccine. Even more impressive, Salk opted not to patent the vaccine. When famed journalist Edward R. Murrow questioned Salk's decision, the scientist replied, "Could you patent the sun?" Title Of His Biopic: Salk

Who Was He? A politician from Kentucky, Cassius Clay was an abolitionist and duelist. When And Where: 1800s in the United States and Russia Notable Achievements: Cassius Marcellus Clay was born into privilege in 19th-century Kentucky. Though Clay and his family owned enslaved workers, he ultimately freed them and became an outspoken abolitionist who served as a politician in the Blue Grass State. Clay's bold abolitionism made him a target of pro-slavery Americans, and he survived attacks on his life. Armed with a Bowie knife, Clay defended himself by stabbing would-be assassins on multiple occasions. Clay never shied from violence, as he participated in many duels. In fact, The New York Times credits him with having "slain more men in duels than anyone else in the country." His beliefs and fiery reputation won him the nickname the "lion of White Hall." Title Of His Biopic: Lion of White Hall

Who Was She? Ida B. Wells was a fearless journalist and suffragist. When And Where: 1890s-1920s in Memphis and Chicago Notable Achievements: Ida B. Wells was one of the most notable journalists in American history. After living through tragedy as a child, Wells turned her pen to the plight of Black Americans in the era of Jim Crow, when segregation and discrimination plagued the country. She risked her life to publish exposés on the lynchings of Black Americans and helped establish the NAACP. Her writings earned her a posthumous Pulitzer Prize decades after her passing. But Wells wasn't just a successful journalist and activist for racial justice. She was also an ardent suffragist who worked to get all women - regardless of the color of their skin - the right to vote. That was no easy task. Activists in the American suffragist movement routinely ignored, dismissed, and discounted their Black sisters. During a suffrage parade in 1913, for example, she was exasperated when fellow suffragist Alice Paul tried to have Wells march in the back of the procession. Wells refused and retorted, "Either I go with you or not at all." Sounds like the beginning of a speech that would win someone an Oscar. Title Of Her Biopic: The Right Side of Justice

Who Was She? Ching Shih was a prolific pirate who ruled the waves in China. When And Where: Late 18th to early 19th century in China Notable Achievements: Move over, Jack Sparrow - Ching Shih is regarded as the most successful pirate in history. Ching Shih is the ultimate rags-to-riches story, with an epic Black Sails twist. Ching Shih got her start as a sex worker before marrying a pirate lord. After her husband passed in 1807, she claimed his ships as her own. In total, she commanded the loyalty of tens of thousands of pirates. Title Of Her Biopic: Pirate Queen

Who Was She? Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the most storied queens in English history. When And Where: 12th century in France, Jerusalem, and England Notable Achievements: As Duchess of Aquitaine, Eleanor was one of the wealthiest women in Europe. She soon got a new title when she married Louis VII: Queen of France. Not content to sit around and let her husband have all the fun, Eleanor went to the Holy Land with him during the Crusades. In 1152, she ended her marriage to Louis and married another royal: the future Henry II of England. Eleanor thus became an English queen. Her marriage to Henry was nothing if not eventful. The two sparred furiously, and Eleanor even supported rebellions against her husband. Apart from being queen, Eleanor was also well known as a patron who promoted courtly love. Though Eleanor has featured in stories of the men in her life - like The Lion in Winter and Robin Hood - she hasn't gotten the Hollywood treatment in her own right. Her story is an Oscar-winning biopic waiting to happen. Title Of Her Biopic: The Fiery Crown

Who Was She? An Anglo-Saxon warrior queen, Æthelflæd protected her kingdom from Vikings. When And Where: Late 800s and early 900s in England Notable Achievements: As the daughter of the celebrated Alfred the Great, Æthelflæd had a lot to live up to. But it's safe to say that she would have made her father proud. Though Anglo-Saxons generally didn't welcome female leaders, Æthelflæd became ruler of Mercia - a kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England - in 911, when her husband passed. She earned the title "Lady of the Mercians," because she could not, by law, be called a queen. She became a ruler during a tense time for Mercia. Vikings had established strongholds throughout England. Æthelflæd was up for the challenge. Her armies defeated the Vikings on numerous occasions, thus enabling her kingdom and Anglo-Saxon rule to persevere. Title Of Her Biopic: Lady of the Mercians

Who Was She? Gerda Taro was a photographer who turned her lens to war in the 20th century - at the cost of her life. When And Where: 1930s in Germany, France, and Spain Notable Achievements: Born in Germany to a Jewish family in 1910, Taro fled to France after Adolf Hitler came to power. In 1936, she traveled to Spain to document the Spanish Civil War as a photojournalist. There would be plenty of room for romance in the biopic, too. Taro's romantic partner was the photographer Robert Capa, who documented the first wave of American troops landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944. Spoiler: Taro's story won't have a happy ending. Though she documented the Spanish Civil War with artistry and vision, the conflict would take her life in 1937. Title Of Her Biopic: Exposure

Who Was She? Pauline Cushman was an actor turned spy during the Civil War. When And Where: 1800s in the United States Notable Achievements: Actor Pauline Cushman was no fan of the Confederacy during the Civil War. After all, her husband had passed while fighting for the Union. So in 1863, when Confederates tried to talk her into toasting Jefferson Davis following one of her stage performances, she reported them to a federal marshal - and won an invitation to become a spy for the United States government. She accepted. Cushman's life on the stage prepared her well for life as a spy. She spied in her boardinghouse and was nearly executed after Confederates caught her stealing battle plans. At the end of the war, she toured a one-woman show for P.T. Barnum about her career as a spy. Title Of Her Biopic: All the World's a Stage

Who Was She? Hatshepsut was one of the earliest known female pharaohs of ancient Egypt. When And Where: 15th century BCE in Egypt Notable Achievements: When Hatshepsut was a child, she had a clear path in life: she was supposed to be a consort, not a ruler in her own right. But that wasn't the path she wanted. After the passing of her husband, Hatshepsut served as a regent before naming herself pharaoh. She ruled in her own right as a king of Egypt. During her reign, Hatshepsut inaugurated a robust building project and expanded Egyptian trade in the region. Title Of Her Biopic: Pharaoh

Who Was He? Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, may have begun his life enslaved, but eventually became a court composer in France just before the French Revolution. When And Where: 1700s in Guadeloupe and France Notable Achievements: The Chevalier de Saint-Georges's life has a dramatic sweep. Born enslaved in the French colony of Guadeloupe, the chevalier's father was a nobleman who brought his illegitimate son to his native France. The boy's stellar education in France included swordplay, and the chevalier became a master fencer at a young age. He wasn't content to duel his way across French high society, however, even though he was good at it. The chevalier also became an expert violinist, conductor, and composer. Musicologists consider him on the same level as his contemporaries Joseph Haydn and Mozart. Though he faced racial prejudice in France, the chevalier nonetheless maintained a glittering career, even earning a place as a musician at Marie Antoinette's court. Title Of His Biopic: The Virtuoso Update: A critically acclaimed biopic of Boulogne called ‘Chevalier,’ with Kelvin Harrison Jr. starring as the title character alongside Lucy Boynton as Marie Antoinette and Samara Weaving as Marie Josephine, was released in April of 2023.

Who Was He? A veteran of multiple battles, Adrian Carton de Wiart never met a war he didn't like. When And Where: 1890s-1940s in South Africa and Europe Notable Achievements: Arguably the world's most enthusiastic soldier, Adrian Carton de Wiart enlisted in multiple wars, including the Boer War, World War I, and World War II. He got plenty of battle scars along the way and miraculously avoided death many, many times. WWI took an eye and one of his hands, for example, forcing him to wear an eye patch for the rest of his life. Carton de Wiart's ability to survive even the scariest wounds - like his head wounds - earned him the nickname the "Unkillable Soldier." During WWII, he also escaped an Italian prison, where he had been incarcerated after his plane had been shot down in 1941. Title Of His Biopic: Unkillable

Who Was He? A major general for the United States Army during the Civil War, Benjamin Butler commanded Federal-occupied New Orleans. When And Where: Mid-1800s in the United States Notable Achievements: A Massachusetts lawyer by training, Benjamin Butler took up arms when the American Civil War broke out in 1861. Though Butler's views were complicated - he previously supported Jefferson Davis, who would go on to become the treasonous president of the Confederacy - he nonetheless provided escape routes for enslaved workers in the South. In decreeing that enslaved workers should be considered contraband, Butler ensured that any enslaved man, woman, and child who fled to Union lines would not be returned to their owners in the Confederacy. Needless to say, Butler wasn't popular in the South. As commander of occupied New Orleans, Butler adopted hard-line policies, and Louisianans snidely called him "Beast Butler." Title Of His Biopic: Dauntless

Who Was He? Founding Father Gouverneur Morris wrote the Preamble to the United States Constitution. When And Where: Late 1700s to early 1800s in colonial America, the United States, and France Notable Achievements: A devoted public servant with a wild private life, Gouverneur Morris wasn't your average Founding Father. Morris had a hand in shaping early America. As author of the Preamble to the US Constitution, he even wrote the words "We the people," a much-quoted American phrase. Unlike many Founding Fathers, Morris was ardently anti-slavery. For added drama, he was in France when the French Revolution began in 1789. One of his mistresses in Europe was Adélaïde de Flahaut, who also counted French official Charles-Maurice de Talleyran-Périgord and the Duke of Orléans as her lovers. Flahaut wasn't his only lover. Morris was a known Lothario who seduced women from all ends of the social spectrum. Indeed, he had a wooden leg for much of his life, and one story claims he lost his leg after leaping from a window to avoid encountering a mistress's husband. His end was also unusual - and may be tricky to depict on film. In 1816, Morris inserted a bone into his urinary tract to clear it out. He contracted an infection and passed. Title Of His Biopic: The Statesman

Who Was He? Daniel Sickles was a controversial Civil War officer, vengeful husband, and politician. When And Where: 1800s in the United States Notable Achievements: Daniel Sickles's personal life was notorious. A congressman from New York who conducted numerous extramarital relationships, Sickles discovered that his wife Teresa was having an affair of her own. Her lover was Philip Barton Key, son of Francis Scott Key, the man who authored the national anthem. Enraged, Sickles fatally shot Key in public. Sickles avoided a prison sentence by pleading temporary insanity in court - the first person to successfully do that in American legal history. Sickles may have dodged jail, but Washington society turned its back on him. The Civil War should have helped him recoup his reputation, but Sickles's military career took an unexpected turn: he lost a leg at the Battle of Gettysburg. Title Of His Biopic: Rapscallion