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Barbra Streisand Biography

Birth Name:Barbara Joan Streisand

Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York, United States

Profession Soundtrack, Producer, Actress, Director, Writer, Music department, Costume designer, Costume department

Fast Facts

Named the best-selling singer of the 20th century
Founded the Streisand Foundation in 1986
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015
Got her big break by winning a talent contest at a Greenwich Village cabaret
Started her career as a nightclub singer and appeared on Broadway once before being cast as the lead in "Funny Girl․"
Quote: "I am simple, complex, generous, selfish, unattractive, beautiful, lazy, and driven․"
Known for her impressive vocal range and the unique quality of her singing voice
Changed her first name from Barbara to Barbra in an effort to be unique but still true to who she was
Became the first woman to earn an Academy Award for composing music in 1976 for her work on the song "Evergreen․"
Graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, N․Y․, when she was 16
Auditioned for MGM records at the age of nine, but was turned down
Became the first woman to direct, produce, write and star in a feature film since the silent era with her production of "Yentl․"

Awards

1964Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series: nominated
1965Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Actors and Performers: winner
1969Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
1969David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): winner
1969Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: winner
1969Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety or Musical Program: nominated
1970BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1970Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1970Golden Laurel-Female Comedy Performance: winner
1971Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1971Golden Laurel-Best Comedy Performance, Female: nominated
1974Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1974David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): winner
1974Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1976Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1977Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: winner
1977Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: winner
1977Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
1977Gold Medal-Favorite Movie: nominated
1978Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
1978Grammy-Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: nominated
1979Stinker Award-Worst On-Screen Couple: winner
1979Stinker Award-Worst Actress: winner
1980Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
1982Razzie Award-Worst Actress: nominated
1984David-Best Foreign Producer (Migliore Produttore Straniero): nominated
1984Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1984Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
1984Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): nominated
1984Special Silver Ribbon-: winner
1984Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1985Jupiter Award-Best International Film: nominated
1985Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
1987ACE-Performance in a Music Special: nominated
1988ASCAP Award-Most Performed Feature Film Standards: winner
1988ACE-Music Special: nominated
1988ACE-Performance in a Music Special: nominated
1988David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): nominated
1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1989Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
1992Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1992DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1992Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
1995CableACE-Directing a Music Special or Series: winner
1995CableACE-Performance in a Music Special or Series: winner
1995CableACE-Music Special: nominated
1995DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety: winner
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: winner
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special: winner
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Variety or Music Program: nominated
1997Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1997Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
1997OFTA Film Award-Best Original Song: nominated
1998ASCAP Award-Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures: winner
2001CINE Golden Eagle-Documentary - Short: winner
2001CINE Golden Eagle-Broadcast Division: News, Special Features, Public Affairs & General Information: winner
2001Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Special: winner
2001OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Performer of a Variety, Musical, or Comedy Special: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: winner
2002DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety: nominated
2011Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actress: nominated
2013Razzie Award-Worst Actress: nominated
2024HMMA Award-Best Original Song - TV Show/Limited Series: winner