Barbra Streisand Talks 'Passion', 'Memoir' and 'Normal Heart' to AP

The Associated Press reveals that Barbra Streisand has finished building her dream house and has started to think about her life in terms of a potential memoir. The singer, director and actress has reached an agreement with Viking for "A Passion for Design," an illustrated book scheduled for fall 2010 that includes photos of the Malibu, Calif., oceanfront compound she worked on for more than five years, and of other residences, back to her early years in New York.

In writing about where she lives (the book is expected to have up to 50,000 words of text), she has been writing about herself "because I'm spurred on by the writing process," Streisand said Wednesday during a brief telephone interview with The Associated Press. Long reluctant to discuss her private life, the 67-year-old Streisand said she has been working on chapters, in longhand, for a separate book. But she hasn't made up her mind whether she will complete the memoir and publish it.

"I go back and forth," stated Streisand, who has received numerous show business honors, including Academy Awards, Grammys and Emmys. "Do I really want to write about my life? Do I really want to relive my life? I'm not sure."

Married to actor James Brolin, her second husband, Streisand told the AP that she wants to get back into filmmaking after setting her career aside to work on her house. She is hoping to obtain rights to Larry Kramer's play "A Normal Heart," a story she has been interested in for years, and has recruited some "interesting cast members" whom she declined to identify. To read the candid and revealing AP interview, click here.

Streisand The Concerts held the #1 position on the Billboard Top Music DVD chart for three weeks in a row. The three-disk DVD package scored the highest sale for any music DVD thus far this year two weeks ago when it debuted at #1 and it continues to maintain its top chart position.

An abbreviated portion of the package's full presentation of one of Ms. Streisand's 2006 American tour concerts was the highest rated television program for its hour in its presentation as a special on CBS on April 25, kicking off the DVD set's winning streak.

Barbra Streisand The Concerts DVD Box Set was also Number One on the UK Midweek Chart Music DVD Chart in the UK. This special DVD set was released on Monday March 16th, in the UK.

The now legendary 2006 concert, which later toured Europe, was conceived and directed by Barbra Streisand and Richard Jay-Alexander.

A star for over four decades, Streisand received Tony nominations for her Broadway debut I Can Get It For You Wholesale and for her star-making turn as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (she would receive a Star of the Decade, Hall of Fame Tony in 1970). Streisand would go on to recreate the role on film for a 1969 Oscar. She was also nominated for her performance in The Way We Were. She received another Oscar for co-writing "Evergreen" for A Star is Born and was similarly nominated for "I Finally Found Someone" from The Mirror Has Two Faces. Other film credits include Hello, Dolly!, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, What's Up, Doc?, Funny Lady, Nuts and Yentl. She has also produced several of her movies.

Barbra Streisand is the US music industry's #1 best-selling female recording artist. She is second in the all-time charts, ahead of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, exceeded only by Elvis. Streisand remains the only artist to receive an Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, Cable Ace, and Peabody Awards, and the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award.

The winner of multiple Grammy Awards, Streisand has sold many millions of records, with 50 of them gold and 30 platinum. She is also the only artist to have Billboard #1 albums spanning four decades--the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. Her many albums include"Guilty," "Duets," "Higher Ground," "Memories," "Lazy Afternoon," "The Broadway Album" and "The Movie Album." In addition to her Tony, Oscars and Grammys, Streisand has won five Emmys, eight Golden Globes, two ASCAP Film and Television Awards, as well as the American Film Institute Award.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.