Barbra Streisand is part of an elite group of entertainers who have won all four major entertainment awards – Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. And not only that, she changed the way people viewed Jewish actors.
“Before Streisand, conventional wisdom stated that for an actor, looking Jewish meant being relegated to supporting roles. Now…looking Jewish, ethnic or in any way different has become chic. Streisand’s Jewishness is not a role, but a life-style. She has spoken of being ‘proud’ to be Jewish, and described herself as ‘a Jewess through and through, although I’m not religious.’ She has been generous to Jewish causes and philanthropies in the United States and in Israel, honoring the memory of her late father, an educator. Her own film company, Barwood Films (founded 1972), has produced such TV films as Rescuers: Stories of Courage (1997–1998), a series paying tribute to non-Jewish rescuers of Jews in the Holocaust. When asked why she performs, Streisand has indicated that it is not for the money. ‘I have enough money, thank God, and the only reason I want it is to give it away. There’s nothing more I need.’” (From The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women of the Jewish Women’s Archive)
As famous as she is for her immense talent, Babs may be equally famous for her love of her Coton du Tulears. Before Streisand’s beloved 14-year-old curly-haired Coton du Tulear Samantha (“Sammie”) died in 2018, she had cells taken from the dog’s mouth and stomach. Those cells were used to clone Sammie after she died. (This closing was quite controversial and many people spoke out against it.) Streisand’s dogs Scarlet and Violet are clones of Sammie. Streisand has said that she thinks of Sammie “every time she looks at their faces.” Streisand also has a third Coton du Tulear now, Fanny, the other dogs’ “cousin” from the same breeder.
