Hedy Lamarr is best known as a 1940s screen siren, starring opposite leading men like Clark Gable and living a glamorous lifestyle most people could never dream of. But throughout her life, she knew she was more than just a pretty face, and turned her boredom into an invention that changed the world.
Google is honoring Lamarr's contributions with a doodle on its homepage today, which would have been her 101st birthday. (She died in 2000 at age 86.) Here are 5 things you need to know about what makes her such an icon:
During World War II, Lamarr started inventing ways to stop the Nazis from blocking Allied radio signals. Though her ideas were ahead of their time and couldn't be implemented, the invention was passed on to the Navy and got her posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame last year.
She worked with her neighbor, a composer named George Anthill, to develop "frequency hopping" based on piano keys. The patent would be the basis for future technologies that make today's world work, but she never made money from it, CBS News (opens in new tab) reports.
She was born in Austria as Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, but moved to America and changed her name to get out of a bad relationship with an arms dealer. She became known as the "most beautiful woman in the world" at the time, according to The Huffington Post (opens in new tab).
She caused a lot of controversy in the Czech movie Ecstasy, because her character's face is pictured in a close-up while she has an orgasm. Later, she became known as a go-to actress to play seductive characters, something she ended up resenting.
"Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid," she said (opens in new tab). She also summed up the problem with being a powerful woman in the dating world. "I must quit marrying men who feel inferior to me. Somewhere there must be a man who could be my husband and not feel inferior. I need a superior inferior man."
Watch the full doodle below:
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram (opens in new tab) for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
-
The 37 Best Movies on NetflixOf the hundreds of movies streaming on Netflix, these are the best of the best.
-
What are ETFs?
And why are "elder Millennials" pouring a record amount of money into exchange-traded funds? Read on to learn whether investing in ETFs is right for your wealth-building goals.
-
Imperfections Were the Inspiration for The Real Real’s Fourth Original ReCollection
The 90-piece collection gives new life to unwanted pieces.
-
Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Fiancé Riley Roberts?
AOC's husband-to-be is an "easygoing redhead" who lives with her in D.C.
-
68 Times the Kardashians Posed Fully Nude and Owned It
And we mean fully nude—as in, not a shred of clothing.
-
Who Is Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles's Fiancé and NFL Player?
"The easiest yes!" Simone wrote about the couple's engagement.
-
Surprise! Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas Are Parents
They welcomed a baby via surrogate.
-
Meghan and Harry Share First Photo of Their Daughter Lilibet Diana
The Sussex's holiday card is here!
-
The 50 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes Ever
Honestly, we're impressed.
-
Alicia Keys Gets What She Wants
With her jazzy new album, Keys, the singer stopped worrying about everything except what matters: Her own opinion.
-
Brooke Shields on Reinventing Yourself, Making Friends in Your 40s, and More
The actress and CEO shared inspiring advice during a panel at 'Marie Claire's' "Power Trip: Off the Grid" conference.
