• Faith: Judaism
• Career: Actress
• Birthday:  April 24, 1942

Barbra Streisand is an American singer, actress, filmmaker, producer, songwriter, and author whose career has spanned more than six decades. Widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers in modern history, Streisand is among the few performers to achieve EGOT status, having won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Known for her powerful mezzo-soprano voice, acclaimed film performances, and groundbreaking work behind the camera, she has sold more than 150 million records worldwide while leaving a lasting impact on music, film, and popular culture.

Barbara Joan Streisand was born on April 24, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, to Diana Ida Rosen, a school secretary and former singer, and Emanuel Streisand, a respected educator. Her father died from complications related to epilepsy when she was just 15 months old, leaving her mother to raise Barbra and later her younger half-sister, Roslyn Kind.

Growing up in modest circumstances, Streisand discovered a passion for performing at an early age. Although her mother initially discouraged her dream of becoming an entertainer, believing she lacked conventional beauty, Streisand remained determined. She attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, where she studied alongside future stars including Neil Diamond and Bobby Fischer. Rather than pursuing college, she focused on singing in Manhattan nightclubs, where her distinctive voice quickly attracted attention.

Streisand's breakthrough came in the early 1960s after winning a talent contest and landing performances at New York's famed Bon Soir nightclub. Her appearances on television programs such as The Tonight Show introduced her to a national audience, while her debut album, The Barbra Streisand Album (1963), earned two Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

She soon became a Broadway sensation with her starring role as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. When the musical was adapted into a 1968 film, Streisand reprised the role and won the Academy Award for Best Actress, sharing the honor with Katharine Hepburn. She followed with a string of successful films, including Hello, Dolly!, The Way We Were, A Star Is Born, Yentl, The Prince of Tides, and The Mirror Has Two Faces.

As a recording artist, Streisand became one of the best-selling female singers of all time. Her catalog includes dozens of gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums, with signature songs such as "People," "Evergreen," "The Way We Were," "Woman in Love," "Memory," and "Don't Rain on My Parade." She remains the only artist to achieve a No. 1 album in six consecutive decades in the United States.

Streisand also broke barriers as a filmmaker. In 1983, she became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major Hollywood studio film with Yentl. The film earned critical acclaim and won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), while Streisand became the first woman to receive the Golden Globe for Best Director.

Throughout her career, Streisand has received numerous honors, including multiple Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, several Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award.

Streisand married actor Elliott Gould in 1963, and the couple welcomed their son, actor Jason Gould, in 1966. They divorced in 1971. Following several high-profile relationships over the years, Streisand married actor James Brolin in 1998. The couple has remained together for decades and frequently speaks about the importance of friendship, communication, and mutual respect in marriage.

Beyond entertainment, Streisand has been an outspoken advocate for philanthropy, healthcare research, women's health, environmental conservation, civil rights, and political causes. Through The Streisand Foundation, she has donated millions of dollars to organizations supporting education, medical research, climate initiatives, and social justice.

In 2023, she published her bestselling memoir, My Name Is Barbra, offering an in-depth look at her childhood, career, relationships, and creative process.

Barbra Streisand's Religious Beliefs

Streisand was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household in Brooklyn and has remained deeply connected to her Jewish heritage throughout her life. As a child, she attended the Yeshiva of Brooklyn, where she studied Hebrew and learned about Jewish history, traditions, and culture.

Her faith and heritage have influenced both her personal identity and creative work. Perhaps the clearest example is Yentl, the 1983 film she directed, co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in. Based on Isaac Bashevis Singer's story, the film explores Jewish religious tradition, education, and identity through the story of a young Jewish woman who disguises herself as a man to study the Torah.

Throughout her career, Streisand has spoken proudly about her Jewish-American identity and has used her platform to support humanitarian and philanthropic causes. In recognition of her contributions to society, philanthropy, and advocacy rooted in Jewish values, she was awarded the prestigious Genesis Prize, often referred to as the "Jewish Nobel Prize." Her lifelong embrace of her heritage remains an important part of both her public image and enduring legacy.