Barbra Streisand, or Barbara as it was spelt when she was born on April 24, 1942, was at the movies when her course was set. “It was when I first saw Marlon Brando when I was 13,” she recounted of the lightbulb moment. “I had to become an actress; there was no turning back.”
Starting acting classes at 14, Barbra (she would drop the extra “a” when she turned 18) was intent upon becoming a classical actress. While her mother urged her to take secretarial training “just in case”, Barbra refused to give up her dream.
Leaving school at 16, she moved to New York, where she took a stream of jobs around the theatre industry while she waited for her big break, which stubbornly refused to come.
And it was her early struggles to find acting gigs that saw her turn to singing instead. “Nobody in high school was particularly impressed with my voice,” she divulged her surprised that this would launch her career. “And neither was I.”
Barbra won a talent competition at age 18, landing her first nightclub gig opening for comedian Phyllis Diller.” I had never even been in a nightclub until I sang in one,” she wrote in her memoir, My Name is Barbra. “What was I doing here? I was supposed to be onstage, playing Juliet.”
Turns out, she was improving her stage skills along the way. Chatting to the audience between tunes honed her speaking style, and reviews comparing her to a young Judy Garland and Lena Horne saw casting agents take notice.
What movie made Barbra Streisand famous?
Barbra finally got her theatre break whilst also continuing to sing, breaking through to television audiences on The Tonight Show in 1961. At 21, Columbia Records signed her to a contract. In an unusual move, they gave her full creative control, albeit for less money than was first offered. The Barbra Streisand Album was released in 1963 and was an instant hit. The Second Barbra Streisand Album came hot on its heels that same year and swiftly established her as the best-selling female artist in the country.
Returning to the theatre in 1964, Barbra landed the role of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. It was a Broadway smash, and afterwards she toured the UK with it. It also saw her finally make her way into the movies.
With 19 films under her belt, we have rounded up our favourites here. Read on…
Funny Girl (1968)
This biographical musical film is loosely based on the life and career of comedienne Fanny Brice, who had a tempestuous romance with professional gambler and con artist Nicky Arnstein. Having originated the role on Broadway, Barbra was a shoo-in for her debut film role.
Set in New York city around the years of WWI, the film retraces Fanny’s breakthrough into the vaudeville circuit. Being told she’s no stage beauty, her mother tries to dissuade her from going into show business, but Fanny, in what must have resonated deeply with Barbra, perseveres. Her big break goes terribly as she falters on stage, but when audiences start laughing at her on-stage mishaps while applauding her singing, a star is born, as well as a fateful first meeting with Nicky (played by Omar Sharif).
As her star ascends, the romance with Nicky heats up. But after the two marry, the wheels start to fall off thanks to his gambling. Can their love conquer all?
Funny Girl was the highest-grossing film of 1968 and was nominated for eight Academy Awards. Barbra won Best Actress, tying with Katharine Hepburn for her part in The Lion in Winter.
Stream Funny Girl now on Apple TV+ with a seven-day free trial. Subscribe here.
The Way We Were (1973)
As renowned for its Oscar-winning theme tune as it is for its tear-jerking plot, this film saw Barbra play Katie Morosky, a committed journalist and staunch Marxist Jew with strong anti-war sensibilities at the height of McCarthyism. Robert Redford plays Hubbell Gardiner, a carefree WASP with no political views.
Despite their different worlds, the two fall in love, and a turbulent romance ensues. It’s both Barbra (who was again nominated for a Best Actress Oscar) and Robert at their best; the chemistry between the two stars is electric. A box office smash, Sarah Jessica Parker cites the character of Katie as her inspiration for Carrie Bradshaw when she was preparing for Sex and the City.
Stream The Way We Were now on Apple TV+ with a seven-day free trial. Subscribe here.
Yentl (1983)
This was a passion project for Barbra, who fought valiantly to bring this film to life. Based on a short story by Isaac Bashevis Singer, Barbra bought the rights in the wake of Funny Girl. It was supposed to be her follow-up, but a slew of issues saw it take almost 15 years to bring to screens.
Barbra directs as well as stars in Yentl, the story of a girl of Jewish girl with big dreams in 1904. In order to escape marriage and be allowed to study the Talmud, Yentl takes on the identity of her late brother Anshel, cutting off her hair and dressing like a man. Entering a Yeshiva, a Jewish religious school, “Anshell” befriends Avigdor (Mandy Patinkin) and his fiancée Hadass (Amy Irving).
Barbra would become the first woman to win the Golden Globe for Best Director in her directorial debut. She was the only woman to claim that title until Chloé Zhao took it for Nomadland in 2020.
Stream Yentl now on Apple TV+ with a seven-day free trial. Subscribe here.
What’s Up Doc? (1972)
Designed to evoke the screwball comedies from the Golden Age of Hollywood, this movie pairs Barbra with Ryan O’Neal. Ryan plays musicologist Dr Howard Bannister, who runs into Barbra’s trouble-magnet character Judy Maxwell when he travels to San Francisco to compete for a research grant.
Accompanied by his uptight fiancée Eunice (a scene-stealing performance by Madeline Kahn), the duo are pulled into a crime caper care of four swapped suitcases. Take note of the history-making car chase scene, which took up a quarter of the film’s budget!
Stream What’s Up Doc? on Apple TV+ with a seven-day free trial. Subscribe here.
A Star Is Born (1976)
While the 1976 version of this enduring classic may not be dubbed by many critics as the best (Judy Garland’s 1954 version generally takes that crown ), Barbra’s performance is mesmerising. She plays bar singer Esther Hoffman, who, being drawn into the world of famous yet troubled rock star John Norman Howard (Kris Kristofferson) finds herself accompanying him onstage.
Her big break ensues, as does a passionate romance. But will her rising star doom them both?
Stream A Star Is Born now on Apple TV+ with a seven-day free trial. Subscribe here.
Honourable mentions…
These other films round out our top picks.
The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)
As well as starring alongside Jeff Bridges, Barbra directed and produced this successful film.
Stream The Mirror Has Two Faces now on Apple TV+ with a seven-day free trial. Subscribe here.
Hello, Dolly! (1969)
Also known as Gene Kelly’s final film, this would ensure Barbra’s Funny Girl was cemented.
Stream Hello, Dolly! now on Disney Plus from $13.99/mth.
The Owl And The Pussycat (1970)
Barbra and George Segal play odd couple neighbours whose lives take a turn when they move in together. Stream The Owl And The Pussycat now on Apple TV+ with a seven-day free trial. Subscribe here.
Stream Titanic now on Disney+ from $13.99/mth.
Meet The Fockers (2004)
Not the strongest film in the Meet The Parents trilogy (a fourth is on the way!), but Barbra’s Roz Focker is an absolute standout.
Stream Meet The Fockers now on Apple TV+ with a seven-day free trial. Subscribe here.
