May Belfort (née Egan; c. 1872 – 1929) was an Irish singer, actress and comedian who was famous across Europe and America.

Born in Ireland in about 1872, she was a comedian and singer on the London music halls and then in Paris where she performed her trademark nonsensical songs at the café des Décadents and the Petit Casino.

She commissioned the famous 1895 Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec poster showing her wearing the red dress with her ever present black cat.

When it turned out he was already married and unwilling to continue the relationship with her, she traveled to Chicago and horsewhipped him in the street.

Due to bad investments in mining, Belfort lost her money and ended working as a rug weaver and living in poverty.