Hedy Lamarr, the Hollywood star who invented the Tech behind WiFi
What do these two people have in common: the most ravishingly beautiful actress of the 1930s and 40s and the creative inventor whose ideas were the basis of cell phone and bluetooth technology? They are one and the same person: Hedy Lamarr, the glamour icon whose beautiful face was the inspiration for Snow White and Cat Woman. Not only that: she was also a technological trailblazer who came up with a secure radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes during WWII.
Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914, in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, was a woman of extraordinary talent and intellect. Lamarr’s life was a blend of beauty, intelligence, and determination that broke barriers in both the entertainment industry and technological innovation.
Hedy was born into an affluent Jewish family. Her father, Emil Kiesler, was a bank director with a passion for technology, and her mother, Gertrud Lichtwitz Kiesler, was a classically trained pianist. Early on, Hedy showed a keen intellect and a fascination with mechanics. As a child, she enjoyed taking apart and reassembling household devices, a precursor to her later inventive pursuits.
Despite her technical inclinations, Hedy left school at 16 to study acting in Vienna. In 1930, she secured her first film role in Geld auf der Straße (Money on the Street), and by 1933, she achieved international notoriety for her role in Ecstasy. The film, considered scandalous at the time, featured her in a partially nude scene and included one of the first on-screen depictions of a female orgasm. Though controversial, Ecstasy showcased her acting ability and established her as a rising star.
At 18, Hedy married Friedrich Mandl, a wealthy Austrian arms manufacturer. While the marriage offered her a life of luxury, it was deeply restrictive. Mandl was possessive, forbidding her from continuing her acting career and keeping her under constant surveillance.
During this time, Hedy attended many of her husband’s business meetings, which included discussions with engineers and scientists about military technology. This exposure deepened her understanding of technical concepts, particularly in the field of radio-controlled weaponry.
Unhappy in her marriage, Hedy orchestrated a daring escape in 1937, fleeing to Paris and eventually to London. There, she met Hollywood producer Louis B. Mayer, who offered her a contract with MGM Studios, provided she change her name. She chose “Hedy Lamarr” as a nod to silent film actress Barbara La Marr.
Hedy made her Hollywood debut in Algiers (1938), captivating audiences with her striking beauty and enigmatic presence. She quickly became one of MGM’s most bankable stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood, appearing in numerous successful films, including:
- “Ziegfeld Girl” (1941), alongside Judy Garland and Lana Turner.
- “Samson and Delilah” (1949), a biblical epic and one of the highest-grossing films of its time.
- “Boom Town” (1940), opposite Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy.
Despite her success, Lamarr grew frustrated with the limited scope of the roles offered to her. Often typecast as the “exotic beauty” or femme fatale, she longed to be recognized for her intellect. Besides her acting career, Lamarr spent time tinkering and inventing, and came up with several ideas such as improved traffic lights and a dissolvable tablet to create carbonated drinks.
During World War II, Lamarr sought ways to contribute to the Allied war effort. Partnering with avant-garde composer George Antheil, she devised a system for secure radio communication. The invention, called frequency hopping, involved rapidly switching radio frequencies to prevent enemy interception of torpedo guidance systems. In 1942, they secured a U.S. patent for their invention.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Navy initially dismissed it, considering it too cumbersome. Decades later, frequency hopping and related methods became integral to technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Lamarr and Antheil’s contributions are now recognized as foundational in the field of wireless communication.
Hedy received little acknowledgment for her invention during her lifetime. It wasn’t until 1997 that she and Antheil were awarded the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Pioneer Award for their groundbreaking work.
Today, Lamarr is celebrated as both a film icon and a technological pioneer. Her dual legacy was immortalized in the 2017 documentary Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, which detailed her contributions to science and her struggles to gain recognition beyond her looks.
Hedy’s personal life was tumultuous. She married six times and had three children. In her later years, Hedy retreated from public life, living modestly and largely out of the spotlight. She passed away on January 19, 2000, at the age of 85, in Casselberry, Florida.
Hedy Lamarr’s story is one of extraordinary contradictions: a woman celebrated for her beauty who possessed a brilliant mind; an innovator whose work contributed to technologies that now shape our world. Her birthday, November 9, was declared Inventors’ Day in her honour.
Hedy Lamarr’s life serves as a testament to the power of curiosity, intelligence, and resilience. Her legacy continues to inspire women in STEM fields and beyond, proving that true brilliance knows no bounds.
