Born
李淑蒙, a Shanghai film actress in the 1930s before marrying Mao in Yan'an. During the
文化大革命 (1966-76) she led the radical faction pushing 'revolutionary model operas' (
样板戏) and purging cultural figures. Arrested a month after Mao's death in 1976, tried with the rest of the
四人帮, and sentenced to death (commuted). Committed suicide in 1991.
