Lois Lane was influenced by real-life journalist Nellie Bly.
Lois Lane . For her character , Siegel was inspired by actress Glenda Farrell , the movie star who portrayed Torchy Blane -- a gutsy , beautiful headline-hunting reporter , starring in a series of 1930s films . She was also influenced by the real-life journalist Nellie Bly . Elizabeth Cochran Seaman ( May 5 , 1864 -- January 27 , 1922 ) , known by her pen name Nellie Bly , was an American journalist .