“Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid.”
Hedy Lamarr was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kessler in Vienna, Austria in 1913. Hedy, as she obviously became, had a clam and stable childhood but was fascinated by cinema. By the time Hedy was a teenager, she had decided to drop out of school and become an actress. Hedy appeared in her first film in a bit role in the 1930 German film, “Geld Auf Der Strasse” (”Money on the Street”). Her obvious talent led her to star in three more German films in 1931 but it would be her next role in the 1932 German film “Extasy” where she appeared nude which would really launch her. The nude scenes which are very tame by today’s standards caused the film to be banned by the US Government. Shortly afterwards, Hedy married Fritz Mandl, a munitions manufacturer and Nazi sympathizer, who attempted to buy up all the copies of the film although he failed to do so, not least because the Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, owned a copy which he refused to sell.
Despite, or perhaps as a result of, the controversy caused by the film, it brought Hedy to Hollywood’s attention and Louis B.Mayer signed her to a contract, although insisted that she change her name and only appear in wholesome films. Hedy made her US debut in the 1938 film, “Algiers” and in 1942 landed the much coveted role of Tondelayo in the classic “White Cargo”. Hedy’s career began to decline after World War Two and MGM decided not to renew her contract. Unfortunately for her, Hedy turned down roles in “Gaslight” and “Casablanca” but in 1949 she appeared as Delilah opposite Victor Mature in “Samson and Delilah” which proved to be Paramount Studios’ biggest film to date, bringing in $12 million.
Lamarr’s acting career took a decline after her role in the comedy, “My Favourite Spy” in 1951, where she starred opposite Bob Hope and after this she only appeared sporadically in films. In 1966 Lamarr was accused of shoplifting and she retired from public life and moved to Florida, although would make the headlines again in 1991, when at the age of 78, she was accused of shoplifting again. Hedy Lamarr died in January 2000, and according to her wishes, her ashes were scattered in Vienna.
