On May 18, 1911, the famous Austrian-American actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Austria). Born as Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, she began her acting career in the early 1930s and gained international fame with her role in the controversial Czech film "Ecstasy" (1933).

Lamarr later moved to Hollywood and became a popular actress in the 1940s, starring in films such as "Algiers" (1938), "Boom Town" (1940), and "Samson and Delilah" (1949). She was often referred to as "the most beautiful woman in the world" during the peak of her acting career.

However, Lamarr was not just a pretty face; she was also an inventor. During World War II, she and her friend, composer George Antheil, developed a frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology intended to help Allied forces control their torpedoes more securely. This innovative technology, though not immediately used by the military, later became a precursor to modern wireless communications, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Lamarr's groundbreaking work in spread spectrum technology was recognized posthumously. In 1997, she and George Antheil were jointly honored with the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award, and in 2014, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Hedy Lamarr's birthday serves as a reminder of her significant contributions to both the entertainment industry and the field of wireless communication technology, making her a truly remarkable figure in history.