Ecstasy - Hedy Lamarr - Large

Austrian-born, American actress and inventor, Hedy Lamarr, maybe known for her striking appearance and 1940s’ Oscar nominations, but she is the brains behind globally utilised technology.

Filling the patent for frequency-hopping technology in 1941, which became the backbone for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Due to her glamorous appearance and film roles, it was inconceivable that she could have invented such technology. The newspaper header is taken from the coverage of her invention being utilised by the US to steer torpedoes.

Her scandalous film Ecstasy (1933), was the first film banned from entering the US, as it portrays both Lamarr running nude, as well as the first female orgasm on film. Later it would be revealed this particular scene was in fact not as pleasurable as it appears but instead created with the director poking her in the bottom with a safety pin to achieve her reaction. The text above her portrait is taken from the film poster.

Lamarr later sued the two male writers of her autobiography she helped write, “Ecstasy and Me” for manipulating her words. The “by Hedy Lamarr” comes from the front cover of this book. Detached from the original use and reclaimed here in the use of her image and celebration of her intellect.
The book detailed her 6 marriages, her suggested bisexuality and phenomenal film career.