My Name Is Barbra

Barbra Streisand is often considered one of the most influential entertainers of the 20th century: Her multi-hyphenate career has spanned over seven decades, and her music, movies, and performances have made a significant impact on Western culture as she blazed a trail for women in the entertainment industry. Streisand is one of the most successful and decorated recording artists of all time and one of the few performers to win an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) for her work. She is also known for her philanthropic and political work in the fields of women’s heart health research, education, and women’s rights.

Streisand has recorded dozens of albums, several films, and multiple television specials. She began her acting career in the theater, where she charmed audiences with her powerful voice and direct sense of humor. Though she only did two shows on Broadway, Streisand is considered a theater legend who redefined what it meant to be a leading lady. She is well-known for originating the role of Fanny Brice in the musical Funny Girl on Broadway and in London, as well as in its film adaptation and in the sequel Funny Lady. In her movies, Streisand challenged the norms of how women were presented on screen. Her roles in Nuts, Up the Sandbox, and The Main Event showcase various interpretations of femininity and a woman’s place in society. She also touches on themes of knowledge, beauty, power, and appearances throughout her oeuvre often while including her signature theatricality and humor.

Streisand throws herself completely into her work, writing in her memoir, “I am completely dedicated and care deeply about carrying out a total vision of a project” (581). This level of commitment has often been a target of criticism in the media, which has often construed Streisand as an obsessive and self-centered diva. She recounts in her memoir many of the unfounded rumors that surround her and laments that the public believes they know her from her public image alone. Several unauthorized biographies by acquaintances and strangers have been published before My Name Is Barbra, making up stories that she challenges. Streisand’s experience battling rumors is an instance of “The Streisand Effect,” a term that now describes a specific phenomenon: when attempts to suppress information merely make that information more popular.

Despite the way she has been presented by the media, Streisand’s fan base spans generations and nationalities. Her impact on the entertainment industry is immeasurable, particularly regarding her impact on women in the industry. Streisand was often one of the first women to reach certain milestones in film and music. She was a film producer, writer, and director at a time when few women in the business had that kind of creative influence. She was the first woman to win the Golden Globe for Best Director (and her supporters believe she was snubbed for other awards the same year solely because of her gender). Streisand has often used her platform to speak out against the misogyny she faced in the industry and to advocate for gender equality in Hollywood.