B. The empress who shared power with Justinian and worked on behalf of women and the poor
Theodora is not only remembered for being Justinian I's wife but, more importantly, for ruling beside him as the Byzantine empress (527-565), and Justinian I's most trusted adviser. She used her political influence to create policies that protected certain rights of women such as laws that prohibited the traffic in young girls and divorce laws that gave more benefits to women.
She also succeeded in ending the persecution against the miaphysites, and helped those most in need through sponsorship of the foundation of many institutions such as orphanages, hospitals, and a home for former prostitutes seeking to reenter society.
Option A is incorrect because according to historians, Theodora's family was not part of the noble class, her father worked as a bear-keeper in the Hippodrome of Constantinople, and she used to work as a performer in the same place, like her mother did before her.