There was a secret agent with a three-digit code long, long before 007 would ever appear on the scene. A mystery woman known only as Agent 355 was a spy for the Patriots during the American Revolution. She worked undercover from 1778 to 1780 and her ID was even kept secret from first US President George Washington, then a general.
Now ‘355’ is being feted again – as the inspiration for new Hollywood blockbuster ‘The 355’. It is the fictional story of a group of females spies who prevent a terror group from starting World War III. It stars Jessica Chastain, who pitched the idea after being inspired by 355.
She went on to produce the film alongside director Simon Kinberg and helped recruit Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong’o, Penelope Cruz and Fan Bingbing.
Hailing the agent, Jessica tells the Sunday Mirror: “Her real name is unknown to this day.
She’s only known as 355 in papers.
“And so women in espionage use 355 as a moniker, like a badge of honour, as a representation or symbol of women who work in the shadows, who are unsung heroes.
“And I was really moved when I heard this story from a woman who works in espionage who told me about 355 and I said, ‘That has to be in our film’. Because it’s a way of honouring this woman who was never honoured.”
The question is, just who was Agent 355, the woman who risked her life as Patriots of the newly founded United States fought against British rule?
While her identity is unknown, some facts about her seem clear.
She was in the Culper Ring – a network of spies organised by Major Benjamin Tallmadge and General Washington in 1778 during the British occupation of New York City.
Mirror
‘355’ is screening at Liberty by Scope Cinemas, Colombo City Center, PVR Colombo 2, KCC Kandy City Center, Majestic Superior Cinema, Regal – Dematagoda, Savoy 3D, Milano – Kegalle, NIT – Ratnapura and NIT- Kuranegala