From Freud to Schwarzenegger: Seven Famous People from Austria Known Worldwide
Austria remains permanently neutral in all wars and does not enter into any global conflicts. Although Austria is a member of the European Union, it is not a member of NATO. The world knows many famous Austrian people. Most famous composers were born in Austria. Here are seven famous Austrians that you probably know and love.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
A world-famous Austrian person, Sigmund Freud, had a full name - Sigismund Schlomo Freud. An Austrian neurologist, he is considered the father and founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method of treating psychopathology through a dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. His groundbreaking theories concerned the subconscious, dreams, and the importance of sexuality in human development. Freud's colleagues and followers, such as Carl Jung and Alfred Adler, eventually developed their own psychological theories.
Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947-)
The Austrian celebrity Arnold Schwarzenegger is a bodybuilder, actor, businessman and now politician. He is a Hollywood star who is still admired by millions of fans. This Austrian is recognised as one of the most influential people in the world.
Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000)
Hedy Lamarr is another famous person from Vienna. She was a Hollywood goddess and Lady Bluetooth. She gained fame as the "most beautiful woman in the world" in Hollywood in the 1940s. As an inventor, she was involved in the development of a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes during World War II, which later became the basis for Bluetooth technology.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the greatest composers of all time. He composed twenty-four operas, including such famous works as The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, 17 masses and more than 50 symphonies. Many of his works are regarded as the pinnacles of choral, musical, operatic, chamber and show music. Before his death at the age of 35, he composed over 600 melodies.
Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)
The famous Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, as one of the leading figures of late modern Vienna, created a number of works that made him the most famous Austrian artist in the world. His paintings, painted with unobtrusive colours full of symbolic power, combine two-dimensional, mosaic elements and Art Nouveau ornaments. He never painted self-portraits because he preferred to paint people - "especially women" - in predominantly erotic forms. From his paintings, the viewer "should strive to recognise who I am and what I want".
Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)
A former queen consort, Marie Antoinette was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She was married to Louis XVI and was associated with everything that was wrong with the French monarchy, including ignorance and extravagance. Her policies exacerbated the unrest, which eventually led to the abolition of the monarchy and, finally, the execution of the king and queen.
"If they don't have bread, let them eat brioche!" (Qu'ils mangent de la brioche) is a famous French phrase that has become a symbol of the alienation of monarchs from the problems of the people, attributed to Marie Antoinette.
Erwin Schrödinger (1887-1961)
The Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger is best known for the Schrödinger's cat, or Schrödinger's condition. His book "What is Life?" explored hereditary qualities with the help of physical science. The Nobel Prize winner also wrote on various topics, such as the diversity hypothesis and thermodynamics, and tried to create a connected field hypothesis.
You can also read interesting facts about famous people from Belgium and Sweden.