Hedy Lamarr: life of the week
Summary
Professor Ruth Barton joins Rob Attar to explore the extraordinary life of Hedy Lamarr, from her scandalous early fame in the film *Ecstasy* to her Hollywood stardom. The episode details her escape from a marriage to a munitions dealer who armed fascists and her subsequent rise at MGM. It also highlights her overlooked legacy as a pioneering inventor who co-developed a secret communication system that anticipated modern Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology.
Topics discussed
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Introduction to Hedy Lamarr and the film Ecstasy
Hedy's early life, education, and stage debut
Marriage to arms dealer Fritz Mandl and escape
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Escape to Hollywood and MGM makeover
Typecasting as a seductress and peak fame
Invention of frequency-hopping spread spectrum
Post-war career decline and independent films
Later life, plastic surgery, and troubled marriages
Late recognition of her technological legacy
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