The Legendary Barbra Streisand
In an episode of ABC’s Primetime in September 2005, Diane Sawyer interviewed Barbra Streisand, legendary film/theater actress, singer, film producer, director, and composer.
The episode was to primarily promote her album, Guilty Pleasures, where she collaborated with Barry Gibb, as a sequel to their Guilty album produced several years back. Clips of Streisand’s outstanding performances over the years were shown, highlighting her very powerful voice.
Showing photos side by side of a recent photo of her and Barry, and another photo of the two 20 years ago, Sawyer asked the singer about changes Streisand had experienced over the years. The actress replied that she has become less afraid and less hard on herself. Streisand also talked about wanting to exercise but never being able to do it, and how she cared about getting fat. When asked if she felt older, Streisand shared about experiencing some physical aches and pains.
After Sawyer commented to Streisand about the sexiness of the album, Sawyer asked her about married life and about sex, which made the celebrity uneasy. Streisand replied that she was shocked at how society today brazenly views sexuality. She further stressed that the mystery is now gone and that it doesn’t sit well with her.
Streisand was born Barbara Joan Streisand on April 24, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Erasmus High School in Brooklyn and started out her singing career by performing in clubs.
By 1962, she signed a contract with Columbia Records, where she released her first album, The Barbra Streisand Album, which earned her 2 Grammy Awards in 1963 — one for Album of the Year and another for Best Female Vocal Performance. She had her first Broadway appearance in I Can Get It for You Wholesale, which got her a Tony nomination and a New York Drama Critics Award.
Her motion picture debut in Funny Girl earned her an Oscar award for Best Actress in 1968.
There is so much more in her roll of credits. Streisand further won Grammy awards for her outstanding vocal performances in People, My Name is Barbra, Evergreen, Guilty, and The Broadway Album. She also received two Grammy Special awards.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Streisand is the highest-ranking female artist on its Top Selling Artists list with around 147 million albums sold worldwide.
Streisand was first married to actor Elliott Gould. They were married for 8 years and have one child. Her second marriage was to James Brolin in 1998.
Check out the profile of Courtney Ross on the Faces of Philanthropy website.
Courtney Ross is the founder of the remarkable Ross School.
To learn more about Courtney Ross, check out Interview Nation.
