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Barbra Streisand received a career-spanning honor Saturday at the 30th edition of the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper paid tribute to Streisand’s talent and impact on and off screen before presenting the acclaimed actor and director with the SAG Life Achievement Award at the ceremony, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and broadcast live on Netflix,
Streisand, a member of SAG-AFTRA for more than 60 years, remembered those who fled prejudice to build Hollywood.
“It is truly a privilege to be part of this profession. For a couple of hours, people can sit in a movie theater and escape from their own problems,” Streisand said. “What an idea, moving images on a screen, and I can’t help but think of the people who built this industry. Ironically, they were also escaping their own problems.”
Streisand mentioned Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer and the Warner Brothers and continued: “They were all escaping the prejudices they faced in Eastern Europe, simply because of their religion. And they were dreamers too, like all of us here tonight. And now I dream of a world in which those prejudices are a thing of the past.”
The SAG Life Achievement Award is presented annually to an artist who fosters the “best ideals of the acting profession.” Previous recipients include Sally Field, Helen Mirren, Robert De Niro, Alan Alda, Morgan Freeman, Lily Tomlin and Carol Burnett.
“Barbra Streisand is an icon and an incomparable talent, a force of nature who has seamlessly woven her brilliance into the fabric of our industry,” he said. Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA when the honor was announced. “From her early days captivating audiences on Broadway to her unforgettable roles in such film classics as ‘Funny Girl,’ ‘The Way We Were’ and ‘A Star Is Born,’ Barbra’s ability to inhabit her characters with authenticity is nothing short of less than extraordinary.
“His long-lasting career is a testament to his genuine performances, which connect with audiences on a deep level. She is a colossal icon with a tireless work ethic, which evolves with each stage of her extraordinary journey. We celebrate Barbra Streisand not only for her achievements but for the lasting legacy she has carved out.”
Earlier this week, Streisand spoke in an interview with The Times about the first time she realized she wanted to become an actress.
“It was the first time I saw Marlon Brando when I was 13,” he said. “I had to become an actress, there was no turning back. Acting has to be a passion that you can’t ignore. It’s like a calling. If it’s just a simple decision like between one career and another, forget it. You have to be strong enough to accept the kind of rejection that actors receive. …And as far as acting again, I will never say never again.”
Although Streisand notoriously hates attending awards shows, she also told The Times why she’s attending this year’s SAG Awards. “I am attending this awards ceremony because they told me in advance that I got the award! No trauma or drama,” he explained. “And I’m very proud to have been a member of SAG since 1961. I also like the fact that Fran Drescher and so many actors marched and worked very hard to achieve what they campaigned for.”
Streisand added that it was all meant to be: “The numbers were right: my lucky number is 24. Number 2 and number 4, and this prize goes to 2-24-24.”
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