Oprah: Does this make you nervous, being in front of an audience now like this?
Barbra: No, I like audiences actually. After my tour I just did—an experience of love and sharing and that’s nice.
Oprah: But it used to make you really afraid?
Barbra: It still does if I have to sing. I don’t have to sing today, do I?
Oprah: No you do not. (audience sighs) ...so talking wouldn’t bother you?
Barbra: Well, it is a little more nerve-racking, but in a sense, I like the feedback from the audience.
Oprah: So, what does make you afraid, Miss Barbra?
Barbra: Not much these days. Actually there is something—plastic surgery would frighten me. (Audience laughs) I don’t even have my ears pierced.
Oprah: I don’t either!
Barbra: You still have screw ons, too?
Oprah: Would you say you are tough and controlling?
Barbra: Yes! But lets talk about what it really means. Because what it means is to be responsible for one’s work. And that means that I want the best product for my audience, and if I don’t care 100%, who will? It’s my name, my likeness that goes out there. It’s very interesting. I was actually talking to my manager Marty, whose been with me over 30 years, [about] my first television show when I was 22 years old the only thing I wanted really, I wasn’t concerned with money and anything like, it was just artistic control. At that time, nobody went remote, they had guest stars and I decided to do this one woman show with three acts. They could not have the right to stop me I remember the night before it was shown, the head of CBS took Marty aside and said you have single handedly ruined this girl’s career, because how did you let her not have guest stars and, you know, do a traditional show, and it went on to win five Emmys.
Oprah: Do you resent or are tired of critics who label you bitch? When Martin Scorsese could direct
the same film and fire 25 people and it would never be in the news.
Barbra: It’s also lies about the amount of people that get fired. They say thirty when there were two ...It’s like they said I was pelted with eggs on the streets of New York. New York is my city. You think people are going to throw eggs at me? No, they didn’t throw eggs at me. The point is, there is a need to diminish the accomplished woman I don’t think I’m tough in a so called tough way. I’m tough on myself.
Oprah: Are you tough on the other actors?
Barbra: It’s not tough. I want their best. I want them to do their best work and that doesn’t mean tough in what we think of as tough you don’t get the best work out of people if you yell at them. You have to inspire them, you have to nourish them, you have to love them.
Oprah: So you only let two people go on this film and it’s gets printed 15?
Barbra: Two people that were not competent enough... they weren’t experienced enough, or were wrong for the part or whatever.
Oprah: How’d you meet James Brolin?
Barbra: A friend introduced us.
Oprah: What are you feeling for him now ?
Barbra: Do you think that I’m going to publicly display my feelings for this man?
Oprah: No, I’m thinking you will at least let us know...
Barbra: He’s great. He‘s absolutely divine. He’s really a special human being.
Oprah: Are you surprised to find this now?
Barbra: Yeah.
Oprah: Did you think you wouldn’t find this?
Barbra: Yeah. for a while I didn't think I would, I thought well maybe you know, God gives people certain gifts and they say you can’t have everything.
Oprah: There are rumors of an engagement, would you tell us that?
Barbra: (coyly) No.
Oprah: What’s your favorite thing to do? I read you like to put on your pajamas. Are they cotton?
Barbra: I don’t wear pajamas.
Oprah: You don’t wear pajamas ...well, see I read that.
Barbra: No. (teases) Don’t believe all you read girl! (laughs)
Oprah: And I thought, “Aw, she likes to wear pajamas, like I do!”
Barbra: I wear nighties.
Oprah: Silk or cotton?
Barbra: Well, depends on what season. In December I like cotton.
Oprah: What is your favorite thing to do?
Barbra: (grinning) Actually, stay in bed with just the things ... the things I like.
(Audience laughs and cheers)
Oprah: Ok, I guess you don’t mean ice cream, either, huh?
Barbra: I mean it all, our favorite thing—we usually stay in bed every Sunday. Yeah, with the newspapers and videotapes and food and each other. That’s all we need.
Oprah: Do you listen to your own music?
Barbra: No, because it takes so much work again to get it right, to strive for excellence, to be responsible and in control of the product, that once it’s done, I’ve listened to 16 mixes I’m sick of it by the time it’s released.
Oprah: Do you ever play yourself?
Barbra: No it takes me about 10 years to appreciate what it is I’ve done.
Oprah: So now, “Evergreen” sounded good to you?
Barbra: Pretty good. Pretty damn good.
Oprah: What kind of mom are you?
Barbra: I wish I were a better mom. I mean, you know, I made mistakes, probably, you know as a young mom. But I never left Jason. I always took him with me. I didn’t ever go away to make a movie until he was fifteen.
Oprah: Would he say it was tough having Barbra Streisand as a mom?
Barbra: I would think so, yeah I think it’s very difficult for children of celebrities.
Oprah: What is your proudest accomplishment?
Barbra: It was having him ... to be pregnant—to create life—nothing compares to that.
Oprah: What are you most proud of him for?
Barbra: His character. You know, he is just a great person, kind and generous and smart and sensitive, and just a beautiful soul.
Oprah: Do you think you will remarry?
Barbra: It’s possible. (and a southern twang) Within my realm of possibilities.
Oprah: What is your relationship with the president [Clinton]?
Barbra: I know him. I think he’s swell. He’s a great president, and I think historically he’ll be remembered in the books as a great president.
Oprah: So have you been to the White House and slept in the beds there?
Barbra: I did sleep in the Queen’s Bedroom. It’s a beautiful, beautiful room with the most exquisite antiques ... it was wonderful ... it is awesome to be in this great, great historical house, you know, with so many incredible people.
