Renaissance woman Hedy Lamarr could not be accused of living a dull life. Even before fleeing her loveless marriage to a Nazi arms dealer to become a Hollywood star, Lamarr had captured international attention as the first female actor to simulate an orgasm in a non-pornographic film.

But none of this, presumably, is why Google has chosen to honour the Austrian-American with a Doodle on what would be her 101st birthday.

She is remembered for her beauty on the silver screen, but the Hollywood actor spent her nights inventing a weapons communication system that was a precursor to wireless technologies including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

"She'd like to say, 'My beauty is my curse'," according to Richard Rhodes, author of Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World.