Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, to Gertrud Kiesler, a pianist, and Emil Kiesler, a successful bank director. From a young age, Hedy displayed a curious mind and a talent for both the arts and sciences, reportedly disassembling and reassembling music boxes to understand their inner workings.

Hedy's acting career began in Berlin, where she studied with Max Reinhardt. She quickly gained notoriety for her role in the controversial 1933 Czech film 'Ecstasy' which featured brief nudity and simulated sexual intercourse. This role brought her international attention, both positive and negative, and marked a tumultuous start to her career.

Hedy married Friedrich Mandl, a wealthy Austrian arms manufacturer, who was significantly older and controlling. He disapproved of her acting career and kept her confined, often bringing her to business meetings where she learned about applied science, particularly in the area of military technology, although she was largely treated as a show piece.

Feeling trapped in her marriage and increasingly disturbed by Mandl's pro-Nazi sympathies, Hedy orchestrated a daring escape from Austria. She fled to Paris and eventually made her way to London where she met Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), who offered her a film contract. She changed her name to Hedy Lamarr.

Hedy Lamarr became a major Hollywood star, known for her exotic beauty and captivating performances. She appeared in numerous successful films, including 'Algiers' (1938), 'Boom Town' (1940), 'I Take This Woman' (1940), 'H.M. Pulham, Esq.' (1941), and 'Samson and Delilah' (1949). Despite her fame, she yearned for intellectual stimulation beyond the studio system.

During World War II, Lamarr, along with composer George Antheil, developed a secret communication system for torpedoes that used frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology. This system aimed to prevent the jamming of radio signals, making torpedoes more reliable. They received a patent for their invention, but the U.S. Navy initially dismissed it. It was eventually used in later military applications and became a foundation for modern wireless communication technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

The patent for Lamarr and Antheil's frequency-hopping technology expired in the 1960s, just before it began to be widely adopted. As a result, they received little financial compensation or public recognition for their groundbreaking invention during their lifetimes.

Finally, in 1997, Lamarr and Antheil received belated recognition for their invention. They were awarded the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Pioneer Award and Lamarr was the first woman to receive the BULBIE™ Gnass Spirit of Innovation Award, considered the 'Oscars' of inventing. This recognition helped to solidify her place in history as an inventor.

Hedy Lamarr passed away in Casselberry, Florida, at the age of 85. Her ashes were scattered in her native Vienna, fulfilling her last wish. While her acting career brought her fame, it is her inventive spirit and contribution to modern communication technology for which she is increasingly celebrated.