Barbra Streisand Says Sexism Cost Her Oscar Nominations
Barbra Streisand may have been nominated for five Academy Awards over her nearly five-decade film career (and won two) — but the icon believes deep-rooted sexism in the industry prevented her from gaining more recognition, especially as a director.
Specifically, Streisand cited being personally snubbed at the Oscars for 1983’s Yentl and 1991’s The Prince of Tides — both of which she directed, produced, and starred in — during a panel moderated by Robert Rodriguez at the Tribeca Film Festival. Yentl was nominated for three Oscars, while The Prince of Tides nabbed seven total nods, but none of the awards went to Streisand herself. Notably, she was never nominated in the Best Director category.
“There were a lot of older people,” Streisand said, as reported by Variety{: rel=nofollow}. “They don’t want to see a woman director.”
But Streisand didn’t encounter sexism just from her male counterparts in the film industry. She also said she experienced jealousy and competition from her fellow females as well. “I don’t know how many women wanted to see a woman director,” she said.
But that same discrimination that Streisand believes prevented her from receiving Oscar nominations is what also motivated her to become a director in the first place. “I directed because I couldn’t be heard,” she said, referencing disagreements with the director of 1973’s The Way We Were, the late Sydney Pollack. Streisand also expressed a desire to see more women behind the camera. “Not enough women are directing now,” she said. “I love when I see a woman’s name on the film, and then I want to see it be good.” A notable release this year from a female director is Wonder Woman, starring W‘s May cover girl Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins.
This isn’t the first time that Streisand has been vocal about sexism and gender discrimination issues. At 2015’s The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment breakfast she spoke passionately on the topic—and encouraged others to do so, too.
“Speak up until women are treated equally by the people who pay us, by the people who heal us and by the people who claim to represent us,” she said{: rel=nofollow} at the time. “And remember: the more we support each other, the stronger we become.”
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Streisand attends the 1969 Academy Awards ceremony in a see-through, sequined two-piece suit. She tied for Best Actress with Katharine Hepburn for her role in “Funny Girl.”
Streisand attends a Chanel fashion show in Paris with photographer Richard Avedon, wearing a leopard skin suit in 1966.
Streisand wears white knee-high lace-up boots in 1966.
Streisand in a three-piece suit, stands in front of a folding screen with her hands on her hips in 1965.
American singer and actor Sammy Davis Jr. stands with presenter Barbra Streisand, who wore a sequined gown and choker at the 1968 Academy Awards ceremony.
Streisand drinking coffee at a New York restaurant wearing a newsboy cap in 1963.
Streisand wearing a tuxedo and bowtie at the after party for the 1976 New York premiere of “A Star Is Born,” which took place at Tavern on the Green.
Actor John Wayne and Streisand at the 42nd Annual Academy Awards in 1970.
Streisand wearing a matching polka-dot dress and headscarf at her townhouse in New York City in 1970.
Streisand walks with her boyfriend, Jon Peters, in London Airport before the premiere of “Funny Lady” in 1975 wearing an ensemble that was emblematic of the decade.
Streisand arriving with her husband, actor Elliott Gould, at a party for the film, “Bullitt” in 1968. Streisand wears large sunglasses, and Gould wears a dapper trench.
Streisand looking easy and breezy in 1966.
Streisand attends the premiere and after party for “Hello, Dolly!” in 1969 look like the queen of New York in all-white and fur.
Streisand dressed in white with a mink fur hat and trimmings in December 1969.
Streisand stands out at a pro-Israel rally at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, to raise emergency funds for Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967.
Streisand wearing a fuchsia pink silk dress with a scoop neckline and a matching bow around the waist, circa 1965.
Streisand attends the 1992 U.S. Open Tennis Championship with Michael Bolton wearing a white bucket hat and round sunglasses.
Streisand at “The Prince of Tides” Los Angeles Premiere in 1991 wearing a white lace busier underneath a white suit jacket.
Streisand wearing a red-and-white wool dress and cardigan, circa 1965.
Streisand wears a velvet cape and turban in the 90s.
Streisand attends the 57th Annual Golden Globe Awards wearing a shimmering sweater dress in 2000.
James Brolin and Streisand attend the 56th Annual Emmy Awards in 2004, where she wore yet another velvet cape — this time in pink.
Streisand showed some leg at the premiere of “A Guy Thing” in 2003.
Streisand wears her now-signature suit and bowtie to the 23rd annual Glamour Women Of The Year gala in 2013.
Streisand is all sparkles in head-to-toe blue at the American Society Of Cinematographers 29th Annual Outstanding Achievement Awards in February, 2015.
Streisand heads to the Renaissance fair, aka LACMA’s 50th Anniversary Gala, in yet another choker and a loose head of curls in April, 2015.
Streisand puts on a choker and and matching green gown for the 42nd Chaplin Award Gala in New York in April, 2015.
Streisand crimps her hair and throws on a tasseled necklace to be honored at the Hollywood Reporter‘s Women in Entertainment Breakfast in Los Angeles in December, 2015.
Streisand channels the ’90s in ruffled cuffs and another choker at a town hall with SiriusXM and the cast of School Of Rock in New York in August, 2016.
Before spreading out her flowing gown onstage at the opening night of her 2016 tour, “Barbra: The Music, The Mem’ries, The Magic!*, Streisand shows off her beads backstage in Los Angeles in August, 2016.
