Hedy Lamarr - Actress and Inventor
Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-American actress and inventor who is known for her beauty, talent, and groundbreaking work in technology. Born in 1914 in Vienna, Lamarr became a prominent Hollywood actress during the Golden Age of cinema, starring in films such as Algiers (1938) and Sampson and Delilah (1949).
Beyond her acting career, Lamarr made significant contributions to science and technology. During World War II, she co-invented a frequency-hopping communication system intended to guide torpedoes without being intercepted, which laid the foundation for modern wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In recognition of her pioneering work, Lamarr was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.
Early Life
Hedy Lamarr was born as Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914, in Vienna, Austria. Her father was a successful banker, and her mother was a pianist. Hedy showed an early interest in acting and the arts, and she was also fascinated by technology and machinery.
By the age of 16, Hedy had already landed her first major role in the controversial film Ecstasy (1933), which caught the attention of the international film industry. However, her true passion for science remained a constant throughout her life, even as she entered the glamorous world of Hollywood.
Key Moments in Hedy Lamarr's Life
- 1914 - Born in Vienna, Austria
- 1933 - Stars in Ecstasy
- 1938 - Stars in the film Algiers
- 1942 - Co-invents frequency-hopping technology
- 1949 - Stars in Sampson and Delilah
- 1997 - Receives Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award
- 2014 - Posthumously inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame
Hollywood Career
Hedy Lamarr’s rise to fame began with her role in the 1938 film Algiers, which established her as a leading lady in Hollywood. Over the next decade, she starred in numerous films alongside major stars of the time, such as Clark Gable and Victor Mature. Some of her most notable works include Sampson and Delilah (1949) and The Heavenly Body (1944).
Despite her success on the screen, Lamarr became increasingly frustrated with the lack of control over her career, feeling typecast as a glamorous starlet rather than being recognized for her intellect.
Invention & Legacy
During World War II, Lamarr teamed up with composer George Antheil to develop a frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology. Their invention was designed to prevent the interception of radio-controlled torpedoes by allowing the signals to hop between frequencies, making it difficult for enemies to jam or intercept them.
Although the U.S. Navy did not adopt the technology during the war, Lamarr and Antheil’s work laid the foundation for modern wireless communications. Today, their invention is considered a precursor to technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS.
In 1997, Lamarr was awarded the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award, and in 2014, she was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, solidifying her place in history as both a Hollywood icon and a scientific innovator.
Memorable Quotes
“Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid.”
“The world isn't getting any better with the passing of time, and I don't need to tell you things are bad. But if I was to give you one piece of advice, it would be this: Always be yourself.”