Streisand Talks YENTL, Upcoming CD and Obama to AP

As producer, co-writer, director and star of Yentl, Barbra Streisand brought her legendary talents to the acclaimed film about a young woman who risks everything for her insatiable passion to learn.

The Yentl Extended Director's Edition Two-Disc DVD set is released today, Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009. The long awaited release includes never before seen bonus features such as Barbra Streisand's Original Concept Reel, rehearsal/final film comparisons, storyboard montages for musical numbers, deleted scenes, and much more, Streisand spoke to the Associated Press about the film, her upcoming CD and President Obama.

The Associated Press: What was the most challenging part of making "Yentl"?

Streisand: I think it was just getting it made, selling it in America. Because once I came to England, things were really wonderful. They had no fear of a woman being in a powerful position because they had a queen and the prime minister was Margaret Thatcher. Being a woman director there didn't seem to scare them. They were the most supportive, helpful, wonderful group of people. I'm very grateful for that. It wasn't until I came back to America it was an odd thing, directing this movie, before I started and after I finished, and that's really fascinating to me. And look how many years it's taken to even conceive of a women being president in the United States? At that time, you couldn't even conceive of a woman being president of the United States, until two years ago ... but times have changed.

To read the entire interview click here.

Incorporating humor and music to relate Yentl's journey, the film won an Academy Award in 1984 for best original score and received four Oscar nominations including Amy Irving for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Art Direction/Set Direction, and Best Original Songs including "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" and "The Way He Makes Me Feel," both sung by Streisand. Additional accolades include two Golden Globe award wins and four nominations, and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Album of Instrumental Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special.

Barbra Streisand returned to the recording studio on Monday November 17th to record her first studio album since Guilty Pleasures, which was released on September 20th, 2005 and subsequently went Gold within weeks of it's release.

Barbra Streisand was honored on December 7th at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Streisand broke the news of the upcoming project to radio listeners prior to the Presidential elections. She will work along side Diana Krall for the very first time.

The project is Barbra's 63rd album. Barbra Streisand Live In Concert 2006 was her last non-studio album, which debuted at #7 in May 2007.

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 by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.