The women scorned

WHEN it comes to revenge, singer Carly Simon, main picture, is an absolute genius. Just look at her 1972 hit You're So Vain.

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SLOW BURNER

The No1 single is famous for the lyrics: “You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.” It seemed to be about one of her ex-lovers - but Carly, now 84, refused to comment for the next 40 years.

The song sparked a frenzy of media speculation, given her history of romancing famous blokes. She had flings with actor Warren Beatty, above, and musician Cat Stevens, and was rumoured to have dated Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

Finally, in 2015, Carly revealed it was inspired by three men - one of them Warren, now 88. The other two remain a mystery to this day.

OPEN VERDICT

FRENCH philosopher Simone de Beauvoir had an unconventional romance with fellow thinker Jean-Paul Sartre. But their open relationship was pushed to the limits when he started pursuing 17-year-old student Olga Kosakiewicz.

Seething with jealousy, Simone took revenge in print by writing 1943 novel She Came To Stay - in which she murders a thinly disguised version of her rival. The book was even dedicated to Olga.

But the furious Frenchwoman wasn't done yet. She went on to bed Olga's fiancé, journalist Jacques-Laurent Bost, starting a secret romance that continued even after his 1946 marriage.