When we think of Hollywood’s golden age, dazzling icons like Hedy Lamarr often come to mind. Known for her breathtaking beauty and captivating performances in films like Samson and Delilah (1949), Lamarr was a star who defined glamour. But beyond the silver screen, she led a double life—one that forever changed the world of technology.
Born in Austria in 1914, Hedy Lamarr wasn’t just an actress; she was a visionary inventor. At the height of World War II, she co-developed a groundbreaking frequency-hopping communication system alongside composer George Antheil. This innovation was designed to prevent enemies from intercepting torpedo signals, a concept far ahead of its time. Though the U.S. military initially overlooked her invention, it later became the foundation for modern wireless technologies like GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.
Despite her extraordinary contributions, Lamarr’s scientific genius went largely unrecognized for most of her life. It wasn’t until 1997—more than half a century after her invention—that she was finally honored with the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award. Today, she is remembered not just as a Hollywood icon, but as a trailblazing inventor whose work continues to impact billions of people worldwide.
To dive deeper into the incredible story of Hedy Lamarr and her groundbreaking legacy, check out the full article on the National Women’s History Museum website.
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