[VIDEO] Hedy Lamarr: The Hollywood Star Who Invented Wi-Fi

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Hedy Lamarr: The Hollywood Star Who Invented Wi-Fi

Hedy Lamarr, born in 1914 in Austria, was far more than just a Hollywood star celebrated for her beauty and acting talent. Behind the glamorous image was a brilliant inventor whose work would change the world. During World War II, Lamarr co-developed a groundbreaking frequency-hopping technology with composer George Antheil, designed to prevent enemy forces from jamming torpedo signals. Though largely overlooked at the time, this invention later became a foundation for modern wireless communication, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

Outside of her scientific contributions, Lamarr appeared in over 30 films, becoming one of MGM’s top-billed actresses during Hollywood’s Golden Age. She was also the first woman to sign her own film production contract in Hollywood, showing her independence and business acumen. In 1997, decades after her wartime invention, she received the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award, finally gaining recognition for her technical genius.

Lamarr’s inventive mind reached beyond military technology. She held several patents, including one for an improved traffic stoplight and another for a tablet that could turn water into a carbonated drink. Known for sketching designs between takes on movie sets, she often said inventing was her true passion. Despite being dubbed “the most beautiful woman in the world,” Lamarr’s real legacy lies in her intellect, creativity, and the modern technologies her ideas helped make possible.