At the end of the 1960s, the world was coming out of the golden age of cinema, but it was not quite over yet - the 1964 Broadway musical ‘Funny Girl’ was gearing up for its Hollywood adaptation.
Based on the real-life story of comedienne and singer Fanny Brice, the theatre version starred Barbra Streisand.
It was a bold choice; the 25-year-old Streisand was new to acting, and producers thought she possessed an unconventional beauty that wouldn’t land with the audience.
But boy, were they wrong.
Her audition blew them away. Her extraordinary vocal range and commanding stage presence made her the undeniable choice, and so Fanny Brice she became.
Left: Barbra Streisand, Right: Fanny Brice
Both Brooklyn-born Jewish women, Streisand perfectly portrayed the brash and brilliant Brice.
More than this, she truly channelled her in each performance, bringing humour, vulnerability, and authenticity to the role.
‘Funny Girl’ was received with much praise, and Broadway's newest star was born.
The show ran for over one thousand performances, and this success inspired the writers to bring the act to the big screen in 1968.
Streisand would become Fanny Brice once more - this time immortalised in film for many more to see.
With this adaptation, she further proved that moulds could be broken.
A bold, witty woman, who was also a first-time actress, and didn’t quite meet industry beauty standards. Unconventional? Maybe, but her talent was unbeatable.
This clip of her singing 'Don’t Rain On My Parade' is proof of that.
Much like its theatre original, the movie was a hit, and Streisand's powerful performance won her the Academy Award for Best Actress (in a rare tie with Katharine Hepburn).
Not bad for a film debut.
Decades later, Streisand’s ‘Funny Girl’ is the standard. Others have taken on the role in revivals, and some have done great work, but Barbra’s version is still the version.
Why? Because she redefined what it meant to be a star.
