Cleopatra VII Philopator

Cleopatra VII Philopator, the last pharaoh of Egypt, was a woman of Macedonian Greek descent. Her family, the Ptolemies, ruled Egypt for nearly three centuries, a dynasty founded by Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great's generals. So, while she ruled Egypt, her "Jewishness" was, shall we say, geographically challenged.

Cleopatra was renowned for her intellect and charm, reportedly fluent in multiple languages. She famously captivated Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, leveraging these relationships to maintain Egypt's independence and her own power. A strong woman in a man's world, she did what she had to do to stay on top, even if it meant a few flings with powerful Romans.

Her associations with the powerful Roman figures of her time led to a certain level of kvell-worthiness, or at least notoriety. Aligning herself with Caesar and Antony was a bold, if ultimately unsuccessful, geopolitical strategy. One could argue it was a power move that, for a time, paid off handsomely.

Ultimately, her reign ended with the Roman conquest of Egypt, and her death by — depending on who you believe — asp or poison, cemented her legendary status. Not Jewish, perhaps, but certainly a woman who knew how to make an entrance, and exit. A real drama queen, if you will, who made sure everyone remembered her name.