Barbra Streisand, the iconic singer and actress, recently opened up about the early challenges and experiences she faced related to sexism in her career, particularly focusing on a specific incident involving Sydney Chaplin, the son of the legendary actor Charlie Chaplin. Streisand’s own words, shared in the context of her forthcoming memoir “My Name Is Barbra,” provide insight into the hurdles she encountered as a woman in the entertainment industry.
In the 1960s, Streisand and Sydney Chaplin both graced the Broadway stage in “Funny Girl.” Streisand recounted the complexities of her relationship with Chaplin, explaining how it took a disconcerting turn when he expressed romantic interest in her. She described the situation, saying, “I don’t even like to talk about it. It’s just a person who had a crush on me – which was unusual.” She went on, “When I told him, ‘I don’t want to be involved with you,’ he reacted in a very cruel way.” Chaplin’s actions included “muttering under his breath while I was performing on stage. Terrible words. Curse words.”
Streisand also expressed, “And he wouldn’t look into my eyes anymore. And you know, when you’re acting, it’s really important to look at the other person and react to them.” This ultimately led to her decision to abstain from live performances for an extended period of 27 years.
The Chaplin incident was not an isolated case in Streisand’s career. She also shared her experiences with other male collaborators who proved problematic. For example, during the filming of “Hello, Dolly!” Walter Matthau publicly humiliated her, saying, “I have more talent in my farts than you have in your whole body.” Frank Pierson, the director of the 1976 version of “A Star Is Born,” criticized her extensively and labeled her a control freak who constantly demanded more close-ups.
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