Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9th, 1914, was a remarkable Austrian actress and technology inventor whose career flourished during Hollywood's Golden Age. With her striking beauty and captivating performances, she became an icon in the film world.

In her early years, Lamarr appeared in films in Czechoslovakia, notably the provocative Ecstasy (1933). Her life took a dramatic turn when she fled from her first husband, a wealthy Austrian ammunition manufacturer, and made her way to Paris. There, she met Louis B. Mayer, the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, who offered her a chance at stardom in Hollywood.

Her acting career soared with her performance in Algiers (1938), and she went on to star in several successful films such as Lady of the Tropics (1939), Boom Town (1940), H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941), and White Cargo (1942). Her most famous role was as Delilah in Cecil B. DeMille's biblical epic, Samson and Delilah (1949). Lamarr even ventured into television before her final film, The Female Animal (1958), which marked the end of an era for this iconic actress.

In a remarkable twist to her already impressive story, Lamarr turned her attention towards technology during World War II. Teaming up with avant-garde composer George Antheil, she developed a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes that utilized spread spectrum and frequency hopping technology. This ingenious invention was designed to counteract the potential jamming by Axis powers. Unbeknownst to many at the time, this innovation would later become the basis for modern-day Bluetooth technology.

For her contributions to both film and technology, Hedy Lamarr was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Her life is a testament to the boundless potential of human creativity and resilience - she truly embodied the spirit of Hollywood's Golden Age.