Barbra Streisandaccepted the SAG Life Achievement Award with a speech that brought her fellow actors to tears.
At the 2024SAG Awardson Saturday,Jennifer AnistonandBradley Cooper, the star of 2018’sA Star Is Born(Streisand starred in the 1976 version), took the stage to introduce Streisand, 81, and give her flowers.
After joking this is the best award to get “because you know in advance you’re going to get it,” Streisand began, “Thank you SAG-AFTRA. I’m very proud to be a member for over 60 years. I can’t quite believe it.”
The icon went on to recall her love of films, specifically black-and-white foreign films, as a teenager in Brooklyn, as well as seeing “the most beautiful actor,“Marlon Brandoon the big screen for the first time.
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“That make-believe world was much more pleasant than anything I was experiencing. I didn’t like reality,” Streisand said. “I wanted to be in the movies, even though I knew I didn’t look like any of the other women on the screen. My mother said, ‘You better learn to type,’ but I didn’t listen. And somehow, someway — thank you, God — it all came true.”
Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper introducing Barbra Streisand at the 2024 SAG Awards.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Streisand also thankedFunny Girldirector William Wyler and cinematographer Harry Stradling, noting that they were “extraordinary” and “had no problem with a young woman who had opinions.”
She also noted that she “never went to college,” and “always thought acting was my education.”
Barbra Streisand.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
“It’s really a privilege to be part of this profession,” she continued. “For a couple of hours, people consider the theater to escape their own troubles. What an idea! Moving pictures on a screen. And I can’t help but think back to the people who built this industry. Ironically, they were also escaping their own troubles.”
The star went on to name several Jewish pioneers in the film industry who changed their names to avoid discrimination, including Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer and the Warner Brothers.
“They were all fleeing the prejudice they faced in eastern Europe, simply because of their religion. And they were dreamers to like all of us here tonight. And now I dream of a world where such prejudice is a thing of the past,” Streisand said.
Barbra Streisand.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
“It reminded me all over again how much I love film, and why we all strive to make the best movies we can,” she continued. “So many people who have done that are sitting right here tonight in this room. So once again, I would like to thank SAG-AFTRA for this fabulous honor, and to say to my fellow actors and directors, I’ve loved working with you, playing with you and inhabiting that magical world of the movies with you.”
“And most of all, I want to thank you for giving me so much joy just watching all of you on the screen,” she finished. “Thank you for that.”
SAG-AFTRAannouncedStreisand was the 59th recipient of its Life Achievement Award in December, describing theEGOT honoreeas “one of the greatest entertainers of all time.”
“Ever since I was a young girl sitting in the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, I dreamed of being one of those actresses I saw on the screen,” Streisand said in a statement at the time. “The movies were a portal to a world I could only imagine. Even though I was an unlikely candidate, somehow my dream came true.”
“This award is especially meaningful to me because it comes from my fellow actors, whom I so admire,” she added.
Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA’s president, also released a statement, calling Streisand “an icon and unparalleled talent, a force of nature who has seamlessly woven her brilliance through the fabric of our industry.”
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Barbra Streisand in ‘Funny Girl.'.Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Silver Screen Collection/Getty
“From her earliest days captivating audiences on Broadway to her unforgettable roles in cinematic classics likeFunny Girl,The Way We WereandA Star Is Born, Barbra’s ability to inhabit her characters with authenticity is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Drescher.
“Her enduring career is a testament to her genuine performances, connecting with audiences on a profound level,” she added. “She is a colossal icon with a relentless work ethic, evolving with each stage of her remarkable journey. We celebrate Barbra Streisand not just for her achievements but for the enduring legacy she has carved.”
See PEOPLE’s coverage of the2024 SAG Awardsas it airs live on Netflix from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in L.A.
source: people.com
