Hedy Lamarr: Brains, Beauty and a Whole Lot More

Of all the scores of stars who graced the silver screen during Hollywood’s “Golden Era,” it is likely that the most beautiful and alluring of all was Hedy Lamarr . . . who was named for the silent star Barbara Lamar, who, in her day was known “the girl who is too beautiful” But unlike Barbara La Mar who died in 1926 from tuberculosis and nephritis at age 31, this Lamarr lived to the ripe old age of 86, and was far, far more than just another pretty face. Indeed as early as 1931, her first director, the great Max Reinhardt (Max Goldmann) referred to her as “the most beautiful women in the world” And for my money, he was absolutely correct.  Far from being a world-class actor, Hedy was nonetheless one of the smartest and accomplished stars of all time . . . away from the screen.