Hedy Lamarr

Born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler to a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna, Hedy Lamarr quickly became a scandalous star in European cinema before making the jump to Hollywood. Her early film Ecstasy (1933) caused a sensation for its nudity, proving that even back then, audiences were easily impressed by things they weren't supposed to see.

While her silver screen career often overshadowed it, Lamarr possessed a formidable intellect. During World War II, fueled by her desire to fight the Nazis, she co-invented an early technique for spread spectrum communications and frequency hopping, intended to help guide torpedoes. This groundbreaking work laid foundational principles for technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, meaning your ability to scroll through memes owes a debt to a woman once famed for swimming naked.

Despite her immense contributions to both entertainment and technology, her Jewish identity was more a matter of origin than active practice, especially after converting to Catholicism later in life. Still, her family's heritage and her personal drive to combat the enemies of her people speak volumes.

So, while she may not have kept kosher, her dazzling achievements and the undeniable impact of her inventions certainly bring a substantial amount of nachas to the Jewish collective, proving that sometimes the greatest contributions come from the most unexpected places—or people.