Untold Legends: Hedy Lamarr - Hedy Lamarr: 1. The Ecstasy girl

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A scandal in Vienna: Hedy Lamarr’s debut movie is considered so sexual; it is banned in several countries. Hedy has dreams of becoming a star, but are those dreams over before they’ve even really begun? The 1933 film Ecstasy features one of cinema’s first depictions of a female orgasm. However, away from acting, Hedy has another passion. She is curious about how things work – taking apart a music box as a child and then rebuilding it – a fascination that will eventually shape her legacy. Untold Legends: Hedy Lamarr is presented by inventor and model Andini, also featuring special guest, Hollywood actress and insider AnnaSophia Robb.

Content warning: this episode contains sexual themes that may offend.

What makes someone a “true legend”? Untold Legends gives legendary status to those who deserve it – and tells their story.

Untold Legends is from the BBC World Service, Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

An earlier version of this episode contained factual errors. This episode was updated on 22 July 2025 to correct them.

Published on Monday, 16th June 2025.

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