Biggest Revelations in Barbra Streisand’s 992-Page Memoir

Barbra Streisand's new memoir might be close to 1,000 pages long, but when you've become an international treasure with countless Broadway shows, films, and an EGOT under your belt, there's a lot of ground to cover. Besides, the 81-year-old has published her life story in hopes that the public will have their questions forever answered.

"It was the only way to have some control over my life," the actor and songstress told BBC of My Name Is Barbra.

"This is my legacy. I wrote my story. I don't have to do any more interviews after this."

For those who want the skinny before diving in, here's eight of the biggest moments included in Streisand's tell-all memoir:

1. She considered making a 'minor adjustment' to her nose

The insecurity about her appearance came from "several people," including her mother, before the multi-hyphenate got her big break.

"Sometimes it felt like my nose got more press than I did... I wish I could say none of this affected me, but it did. Even after all these years I'm still hurt by the insults and can't quite believe the praise," she writes.

Ultimately, Streisand chose not to go through with plastic surgery since it was expensive and she couldn't trust that a surgeon would "do exactly what I wanted and no more." It also posed "too much of a risk" to her singing voice.

"Once a doctor told me I had a deviated septum... maybe that's why I sound the way I do."

2. Her work on Funny Girl sparked an interest in directing — and the myth that she was a diva

Streisand recounts every detail from the making of her first film in 1968, in which she reprised her role as Fanny Brice from the Broadway musical of the same name. She describes collaborating closely with director William Wyler and cinematographer Harry Stradling, sometimes offering to sing live instead of lip-syncing or suggesting how to shoot certain scenes.

"Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I was thinking like a director," she writes. While the tabloids began to perpetuate the idea that she was a diva who was difficult to work with, the budding director realized she had a passion for working behind the scenes.

“It was the beginning of the diva myth that has followed me all my life,” Streisand writes.

“I was not giving orders. I was asking questions. That’s how I learn. But I guess some people had a hard time with a woman who had opinions, and word went out that I was taking over.”

Streisand would go on to direct several films including The Mirror Has Two Faces, The Prince of Tides, and Yentl. In 1984, she became the first woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Director.

3. Funny Girl co-star Sydney Chaplin (son of Charlie Chaplin) antagonized her and called her 'vicious' names on stage

The co-stars enjoyed a brief flirtation (despite being married to different people) during the Broadway premiere in 1964. When Streisand ended it, the rejection "wounded [Chaplin's] vanity and pride" — so he created a "nightmare" situation by cursing at her under his breath during their performances.

"He’d taunt me, calling me a bitch, or worse... the most vicious names,” she writes.

"While the audience assumed he was whispering sweet nothings in my ear, he would actually be jeering, 'You really f---ed up that scene.'"

After her Broadway Funny Girl performances came to a close, Streisand developed a severe level of anxiety that put her in therapy. Thanks to Chaplin, the 81-year-old told CBS that she "never lost that... fear of performing, fear of forgetting my lines."

4. She dismissed the rumors of a rivalry with Judy Garland

The duo became friends after Streisand was invited to perform on The Judy Garland Show in 1963, amidst speculation that the women shared a rivalry. Streisand spoke to her often on the phone and once attended a party at the performer's apartment in New York.

"I think she arrived late. And I remember her saying something I never quite understood: 'Don't let them do to you what they did to me,'" she writes. Six years after their joint performance on The Judy Garland Show, Garland died of an accidental overdose.

"Now, many years later, I understand. Somehow you become more scared as you get older," Streisand writes. "And the more successful you are, the more the pressure increases… there seem to be more people out there just waiting for your to fail."

5. She regrets turning down Marlon Brando's sexual advances

The two met in at a party in 1966, during which Brando said he'd "like to f---" Streisand. His third wife, Tarita Teriipaia, was in the adjoining room.

Instead of having an affair, Streisand and Brando became lifelong friends and phone pals. Later, when both of them were divorced and living in Los Angeles, the Godfather actor suggested they take a trip out to the desert to "see the wildflowers and sleep under the stars."

“Now, looking back, I can hardly believe my response,” Streisand says. “How stupid! Today I would be more adventurous, but I was too insecure sexually back then, still a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn with my mother’s admonitions echoing in my head. Free love was not my style.”

6. She had to convince Robert Redford — whom she developed a crush on — to star opposite her in The Way We Were

Redford, who was close friends with director Sydney Pollack, initially turned down his role as the enigmatic Hubbell because his character was "underdeveloped." Even after two writers were hired to "strengthen" the script, he turned down the role a second time.

Streisand kept "praying" the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid actor would change his mind, though producer Ray Stark was pressuring her to select Ryan O'Neal as her co-star.

"The negotiations went down to the wire. I was in the middle of filming Up the Sandbox in Africa, and one day I got a telegram from Sue Mengers that simply said: 'Barbra Redford!'" she writes.

"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."

7. She almost replaced Mandy Patinkin as her co-star on Yentl

Streisand explains that Patinkin, who played her love interest Avigdor, "disturbed" the flow on the set of the 1983 drama musical. The Funny Girl star was under extreme pressure to do well given that she was both starring in the film as well as co-writing, directing, and co-producing it.

At one point, Patinkin expressed that he thought he was going to have a "more personal relationship" with his busy co-star.

"[He said,] 'I thought we were going to have an affair'... I didn't want to hurt his feelings, so I simply said, 'I don't operate that way.' Tears rolled down his cheeks."

"I said, 'Mandy, this kind of behavior can't continue. I'm prepared to replace you. We're only two weeks in. I can reshoot all your scenes if you can't be more professional. I've waited fifteen years to realize my dream and I will not let you destroy it,'" she writes. Due to Patinkin putting her through "hell," Streisand chose to eliminate a sex scene between them in the film.

8. Princess Diana once helped her avoid a wardrobe malfunction

The two met during the 1992 premiere of Streisand's film, The Prince of Tides in London. The "warm and friendly" princess encouraged her to stand up to be recognized by the audience — something that was against royal protocol — and zipped up a part of Streisand's skirt that had come down. She then proceeded to tell the actor how "wonderful" she was in the film.

"I wonder if she knew how wonderful she was," Streisand writes.