biography
On November 9, 1914, in Vienna, Austria, Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler was born to Gertrud, a pianist, and Emil, a banker. By the time she turned seventeen, she had begun pursuing her career as an actress. In 1932, Hedwig's German film, Exstase captured the attention of Hollywood producers. She soon signed a contract with MGM and, upon her arrival to Hollywood, changed her name to Hedy Lamarr. She appeared in numerous films including her first Hollywood film, Algiers, and met many famous actors and actresses throughout her career.
However, Hedy was not only a beautiful, talented actress, but also a secret genius.
In 1942, Hedy and composer George Antheil patented a "secret communication system" known today as frequency hopping. Hedy and George's original purpose for the device was to solve the problem of enemies blocking signals from radio-controlled missiles during WWII. It involved the changing of radio frequencies simultaneously to prevent enemies from being able to detect the messages. Although the invention was slightly ahead of it's time, the later downsizing of the device made Hedy and George's idea important to both the military and the cell phone industry. At the end of Hedy's life, she had starred in over thirty films and secretly invented a device that could have helped end WWII. Today, Hedy's work can not only be seen in her films, but also in a modern technology used in many cellular devices.
However, Hedy was not only a beautiful, talented actress, but also a secret genius.
In 1942, Hedy and composer George Antheil patented a "secret communication system" known today as frequency hopping. Hedy and George's original purpose for the device was to solve the problem of enemies blocking signals from radio-controlled missiles during WWII. It involved the changing of radio frequencies simultaneously to prevent enemies from being able to detect the messages. Although the invention was slightly ahead of it's time, the later downsizing of the device made Hedy and George's idea important to both the military and the cell phone industry. At the end of Hedy's life, she had starred in over thirty films and secretly invented a device that could have helped end WWII. Today, Hedy's work can not only be seen in her films, but also in a modern technology used in many cellular devices.
Timeline of Hedy Lamarr's Life