Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand, born April 24, 1942, is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. Her career spans over six decades and she has earned accolades across numerous fields of entertainment. Streisand began her career in the early 1960s performing in nightclubs and Broadway theaters, and quickly rose to fame with her debut album 'The Barbra Streisand Album' (1963) which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. She has topped the US Billboard chart with 11 albums and has five singles that topped the US Billboard Hot 100.

Streisand ventured into film by the end of the 1960s, staring in movies like 'Funny Girl' (1968) which won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. She was the first woman to be honored as a composer when she won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for writing the love theme from 'A Star Is Born' (1976). As a filmmaker, Streisand has contributed significantly to the film industry; she was the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major studio film ('Yentl', 1983). This film also won an Oscar for Best Original Score and a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical. Her impact has had such a wide reach, making her one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with sales exceeding 150 million records worldwide. In addition to her career in music and film, Streisand is also known for her philanthropy and political activism.