AllMovie

This edition of Biography, the long running documentary series from A&E, explores the life of famous World War I spy Mata Hari. Born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. She became a dancer in France after divorcing her alcoholic husband. Her name means "eye of dawn" in Hindi (she spent five years in India). She had many lovers - several in high military and governmental positions (on both sides during the war). She was betrayed by the Germans who allowed the French to find out she was a spy (the Germans knew she was a double agent). Found guilty of espionage, she was shot by a firing squad in Paris. Her name has become synonymous with the alluring female spy.