Hedy Lamarr: Hollywood's First Sexy Tech Geek!
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}<b>Hedy Lamarr: Hollywood Sex Symbol, Tech Geek</b> Hedy was a glamorous movie star of the 1930s and '40s, a taboo-breaking beauty who is credited with simulating the first on-screen orgasm (and also appearing nude) in a 1933 film called "Ecstasy." But Hedy Lamarr was a trailblazer in more ways than one. She came up with a way to make radio signals jump between frequencies, and thus prevent the signals from becoming jammed. After Lamarr and a partner obtained a patent for the invention in 1942, she gave it -- at no charge -- to the U.S. Navy, which began using it in the 1960s. Click through to get to know the stunning actress and innovator. (Archive Photos/Getty Images) <b>More from <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67591/hedy-lamarr-worlds-sexiest-inventor#index/0">Life.com:</a></b> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23042/wwii-hollywood-beauties-pitch-in">Hollywood Beauties Pitch In</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/57801/the-sexiest-life-photos-of-all-time">The Sexiest Life Photos of All Time</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67131/the-75-best-life-photos">The 75 Best Life Photos</a>
<b>Hedy in Fox Fur</b> In 1938, LIFE's master photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt -- the man captured the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square on VJ Day -- made these glamorous portraits of the Austrian-born Lamarr wearing a white fox fur jacket. (Alfred Eisenstaedt/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images) <b>More from <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67591/hedy-lamarr-worlds-sexiest-inventor#index/0">Life.com:</a></b> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23042/wwii-hollywood-beauties-pitch-in">Hollywood Beauties Pitch In</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/57801/the-sexiest-life-photos-of-all-time">The Sexiest Life Photos of All Time</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67131/the-75-best-life-photos">The 75 Best Life Photos</a>
<b>Hedy Lamarr, 1939</b> Hedy looking serene and mysterious. (Archive Photos/Getty Images) <b>More from <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67591/hedy-lamarr-worlds-sexiest-inventor#index/0">Life.com:</a></b> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23042/wwii-hollywood-beauties-pitch-in">Hollywood Beauties Pitch In</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/57801/the-sexiest-life-photos-of-all-time">The Sexiest Life Photos of All Time</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67131/the-75-best-life-photos">The 75 Best Life Photos</a>
<b>Hedy Lamarr, 1938</b> The actress and inventor was known for being long and tall. (Alfred Eisenstaedt/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images) <b>More from <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67591/hedy-lamarr-worlds-sexiest-inventor#index/0">Life.com:</a></b> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23042/wwii-hollywood-beauties-pitch-in">Hollywood Beauties Pitch In</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/57801/the-sexiest-life-photos-of-all-time">The Sexiest Life Photos of All Time</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67131/the-75-best-life-photos">The 75 Best Life Photos</a>
<b>Hedy Lamarr, Circa 1940</b> Hedy's innocent smile. (Archive Photos/Getty Images) <b>More from <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67591/hedy-lamarr-worlds-sexiest-inventor#index/0">Life.com:</a></b> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23042/wwii-hollywood-beauties-pitch-in">Hollywood Beauties Pitch In</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/57801/the-sexiest-life-photos-of-all-time">The Sexiest Life Photos of All Time</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67131/the-75-best-life-photos">The 75 Best Life Photos</a>
<b>Hedy Lamarr, 1943</b> By the late '30s Lamarr had made it to Hollywood. (Laszlo Willinger/Getty Images) <b>More from <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67591/hedy-lamarr-worlds-sexiest-inventor#index/0">Life.com:</a></b> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23042/wwii-hollywood-beauties-pitch-in">Hollywood Beauties Pitch In</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/57801/the-sexiest-life-photos-of-all-time">The Sexiest Life Photos of All Time</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67131/the-75-best-life-photos">The 75 Best Life Photos</a>
<b>Hedy Lamarr, 1945</b> The gorgeous actress poses in lingerie. (FPG/Getty Images) <b>More from <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67591/hedy-lamarr-worlds-sexiest-inventor#index/0">Life.com:</a></b> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23042/wwii-hollywood-beauties-pitch-in">Hollywood Beauties Pitch In</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/57801/the-sexiest-life-photos-of-all-time">The Sexiest Life Photos of All Time</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67131/the-75-best-life-photos">The 75 Best Life Photos</a>
<b>Hedy Lamarr: 1913-2000</b> Lamarr died in 2000 at age 86, more famous for her movie career, off-screen romances, and scandals than for the brilliant technology she created. However, a new book by Richard Rhodes, titled <i>Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World,</i> aims to shed more light on her well-rounded life. (Eliot Elisofon/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images) <b>More from <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67591/hedy-lamarr-worlds-sexiest-inventor#index/0">Life.com:</a></b> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/23042/wwii-hollywood-beauties-pitch-in">Hollywood Beauties Pitch In</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/57801/the-sexiest-life-photos-of-all-time">The Sexiest Life Photos of All Time</a> <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/67131/the-75-best-life-photos">The 75 Best Life Photos</a>