Barbra Streisand has shared an emotional tribute to late Hollywood legend Robert Redford, who she famously co-starred with in the classic romantic drama “The Way We Were” (1973).
Streisand, 83, posted a black-and-white image on Instagram of her and Redford, who died Sept. 16 at his Utah home at age 89. In her caption, she called him “one of the finest actors ever.”
“Every day on the set of ‘The Way We Were’ was exciting, intense and pure joy. We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie,” she recalled.
Streisand went on to describe Redford as “charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting — and one of the finest actors ever.”
“The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings,” she wrote, adding, “He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
In Streisand’s 2023 memoir, “My Name is Barbra,” she detailed how she persuaded Redford to take on the role of Hubbell, the star-crossed lover of her character, Katie, after he initially declined it.
Streisand wrote that she wanted Redford for the role because he was a “rare combination… an intellectual cowboy… a charismatic star who is also one of the finest actors of his generation,” according to an excerpt from the book published by Vanity Fair.
Redford turned down the role, she wrote, because he felt the character of Hubbell was “shallow and one-dimensional.“ His refusal prompted Streisand to urge director Sydney Pollack to “give him whatever he wants.”
Pollack brought in two new writers who breathed life into the Hubbell character, infusing his “golden-boy exterior” with inner depth.
“The negotiations went down to the wire,” Streisand recalled in her memoir. “I was in the middle of filming ‘Up the Sandbox’ in Africa, and one day I got a telegram from (Hollywood agent) Sue Mengers that simply said: ‘Barbra Redford!’”
“That’s when I knew he’d finally said yes… and I was so thrilled! The courtship had been tough, but Bob’s reluctance had a big influence on the script and ultimately resulted in a richer, more interesting character,” wrote Streisand.
“The Way We Were” went on to become a box-office success. It was also nominated for six Academy Awards, winning two, including one for best song for Streisand’s rendition of the theme song “The Way We Were.”
Streisand and Redford reunited publicly several times over the years, including in 2002 when Streisand presented Redford with the Honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement.
“He’s always interesting. He’s always interested. He’s very smart. Very private. He’s self-assured but shy, and I adored working with him,” Streisand said during her speech.
In 2015, she lauded Redford again when she presented him with the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award.
“You never quite know what he’s really thinking, and that makes him fascinating to watch on screen,” Streisand said during the ceremony, according to Entertainment Weekly. “Bob understands the power of restraint. You’re never going to get it all, and that’s the secret, I think. That’s the mystery. That’s what makes you want to keep looking at him.”
For his part, Redford also had fond memories of working with Streisand on “The Way We Were.”