Women's history month: How Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr helped shape the world we live in today

Throughout March, the Evening Standard is running a special series to mark Women’s History Month, covering everything from forgotten female heroes to the brilliant women of today.

Next time you freak out because you don't have a password for WiFi, take a moment to remember the name of Hedy Lamarr. This Hollywood screen queen was also an inventor and technological pioneer, responsible for developments in modern communication that led the way for WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth.

Perhaps predictably for a woman ahead of her time making strides in a male industry, her contribution has gone unacknowledged - but a new film, executive produced by Susan Sarandon, sets out to change that. The film's director, Alexandra Dean, explains why she needs to be brought back into the spotlight.

Who was Hedy Lamarr?

Hedy Lamarr 

Hedy Lamarr was a Hollywood actress who became famous for appearing nude in the art house film Ecstasy and then wowing crowds with her astonishing beauty in the Hollywood film Algiers. Vivian Leigh was one of many actresses who copied her look and she even inspired Snow White and Cat Woman, but no one knew she was also a secret inventor.

​What were her most significant achievements?

During the Second World War, Lamarr wanted to give the Allies a super weapon to fight back against the quick and agile Nazi submarines that were terrorizing any ships that tried to cross the Atlantic. To do that, she designed a secret communication system so the Allies could control their torpedoes remotely and hunt down the Nazi U-boats. It was never used during WWII but after the war it was used by military engineers and went into surveillance drones that flew over Vietnam and from there into many military and civilian inventions.

Why has she been forgotten?

She was forgotten because she was never given credit by the war department. Instead the government confiscated her patent as the property of an “enemy alien” and although they used it, they never paid her a penny for it.

23 leading London arts women on their proudest achievements

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Why does she deserve more recognition?

Today her invention has evolved into a secure communication system that we use in our Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS and yet we barely know her name. It’s time we restored her name and her legacy as one of the people who created the world we live in today.

How are you celebrating her this Women’s History Month?

I celebrated Hedy Lamarr this Women's History Month by presenting a special screening of Bombshell that was simulcast at 70 theaters around the UK, and now it's open in cinemas everywhere.

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story opens in cinemas today, March 9

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