Hedy Lamarr

By Charlotte

Hedy Lamarr had a double life. The public knew her as a glamorous movie star; she was known worldwide. But in her private life she was a brilliant inventor, only her closest friends knew. Today you will learn about Hedy’s childhood, acting career, inventions, and final her World War 2 efforts. Let's dive in.

First, will we learn about her childhood. Hedy Lamarr was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914. She was a daughter of a Jewish family and had a calm childhood. Hedy Lamarr has aways been very curious like Trying to impro things. Hedy’s Farther shared his love of science with her on their walks at the park in Vienna, Austria and so did Hedy. Young Hedy was crazy for motion pictures, whenever possible she’d sneak off to a movie theater when returning home, Hedy reenacted her favorite scenes, playing all the parts herself. Always dreaming, Hedy wanted to escape into the movie. By the time Hedy was a teenager, she decided to drop out of school and seek fame as an actress. She was a student of the theater director. Her first role was a bit part in 1930 “Money on the street.”

Let's head on over to Hollywood! Hedy’s first job was as a script girl at a movie station in Vienna, when the opportunity came up to be an extra in a movie. She won a minor role in a restaurant scene, this bit part, giving Hedy her first steps. Hedy Lamarr 5th film in German set her on fire! The film was called "Ecstasy". The notoriety of the film brought Hedy to HOLLYWOOD!!!!!!!! Some of Hedy's most famous films are Samson and Delilah, “Boom Town”, “Tortilla Flat”, “White Cargo”, “Ziegfeld Girl”, and “Ecstasy”, but her biggest box-office success was “Algiers”. Hedy also had a lot of jobs including acting, producer, additional crew, soundtrack, and archive footage. She is mainly known for being an incredibly famous actress. Hedy Lamarr also had some amazing nicknames from Hollywood - “Hollywood's loveliest legendary Queen of Glamour.” She was 5’7.

Next let's see what Hedy Lamarr invented The Hollywood movie star had a passion for science and engineering, “her brain overflowed with idea after idea for useful inventions.” Hedy Lamarr invented many useful inventions such as a new traffic signal, yellow light, glow in the dark dog collar, and many more. Hedy’s greatest invention is the frequency hopping spread spectrum. This is a breakthrough for scientists; it helps keep things private on our cell phones and defends computers from hackers. Hedy did not get much recognition for her amazing invention. In 1997 she and George Anthiel were honored with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and later that same year, Lamarr became the first female recipient of the BUBIE spirit of Achievement Award. Hedy Lamarr shattered stereotypes and earned a place among the 20th century’s most important women inventors.

Now let's learn what Hedy Lamarr did in World War 2. Hedy Lamarr helped a lot in World War 2, let's go see what she did. Hedy Lamarr's movies helped people escape the talk of war, if only for a few hours. Lamarr wanted to help with the war, so she worked really hard and came up with the Hopping system with Goege. Then they sent the patent application to the government they waited and waited, then more than a year later they received the patent they immediately handed it to the United States Navy unfortunately, the Navy had neither the time nor money. They refused to develop the invention, then they classified the technology secret!!! This prevents anyone including the inventors, from using it.

So, Hedy looked for another way to help her adopted country defeat the evil Nazis. She realized she could use her popularity to help win. She traveled across the country and held sale rallies. She sold 25 million dollars' worth of war bonds. Hedy also volunteered at the Hollywood canteens, a club for American servicemen soon to be sent into battle. To lift spirits, she would chat and dance with them. She was happy to have helped the soldiers and sailors.

Hedy Lamarr is a really cool lady and accomplished so many things. I loved researching her. I learned so many amazing things. She is a real role model; I admire her. I hope you enjoyed learning about Hedy Lamarr.


Bibliography:
Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life by Laurie Wallmark
IMDB

Julie Andrews

By Charlotte

Hello, I am going to be talking about Julie Andrews. Julie Andrews has been in over 30 movies including some of her most iconic movies, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. She is also a Broadway superstar. Her most famous Broadway production is My Fair Lady. Julie Andrews is also an incredible author.

First, we will talk about her childhood years and teenage years. She was born on October 11, 1935, in a village called Walton-on-Thomes in England and named Julie Elizabeth Wells. Her very first word was home. When Julie Andrews was very little in her village she put on little shows. At the age of 3, Julie gave her first performance and helped someone on stage when their hat fell off. Julie has always known that the show must go on. Julie Andrews’ parents got divorced during the outbreak of World War 2. Julie Andrews had a hard childhood and overcame a lot of things including getting bombed in World War 2 and having alcoholic parents (her mom and stepdad). It was hard living away most of the time from her dad because he was really kind and understood children well. Julie Andrews’ first big performance was when she was 10, she did a duet with her mom. Julie's stepdad and mom were alcoholics, and she had to work and sing to help her family financially. Julie smoked when she was a kid. Thankfully a doctor talked her out of smoking. She believes if he had not, she may have ruined her voice before she even became famous. Julie Andrews is the youngest person to ever perform for the royal family in England.

Now we will talk about her Family and talk about Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews was performing Camelot on Broadway, when Walt Disney saw Julie and wanted her for Mary Poppins. Julie got the call that she was to be cast as Mary Poppins one day after having her baby. Julie Andrews has five children and has been married twice. She shares a biological daughter with her first husband Tony Walter and has two stepchildren and two adopted children from her marriage to Blake Edwards.

Julie Andrews has been in over 30 movies! This includes The Princess Diaries and Enchanted. Julie Andrews was 29 when Mary Poppins was filmed. Her most recent show was Bridgerton, she was the voice of Lady Wilsdon from 2020-2024. She was 88 years old when the final show was released. Julie Andrews has received 67 awards and 135 nominations. She has also received an award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.

She has written many children’s books and helps many children’s programs. She used to read books in her dressing room when she was young. She started writing books when she could no longer sing. She was very sad about the damage to her vocal cords, but she knew that books would still bring joy and comfort during difficult times. She has her own children’s shows, Julie’s Library and Julie’s Greenroom. Her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton helps with her books and shows!

Julie Andrews used her fame to put women and children in the spotlight. She has also used her fame to promote and grow charitable organizations that help women and children.

There are some fun facts about Julie Andrews many people probably do not know. First, her hair was so short in the Sound of Music because the stylist “fried” her hair just before filming began, and they had to cut most of it off. Her favorite food is boiled potato sandwich. These are sandwiches with slices of potato between 2 pieces of French bread that are slathered in butter and salt. Julie Andrews’s favorite cake is carrot cake.

I love Julie Andrews because I can relate to her, and I have always admired her. I love that she has used her fame to help others. She is an excellent role model for children and even as she is almost 90, she continues to do projects to help teach and inspire children. This is why I love Julie Andrews!


Sources:

Wikipedia

The book Home, by Julie Andrews

MSN

Al overview

All recipes

Classic FM

Rases and shiny interview with Julie Andrews

A book on Julie Andrews, by Christy Webster