Barbra Streisand’s Yentl Co-Star Made Her Life A Living Hell On Set
By Extra-Ordinary Women
Barbra Streisand, in her newly released memoir titled “My Name is Barbra,” has candidly shared her experiences working with Mandy Patinkin during the filming of the 1983 musical rom-com “Yentl.” Streisand’s directorial debut, where she played the lead role, proved to be a challenging endeavor due to the behavior of her co-star.
In “Yentl,” Streisand portrayed the titular character, a young woman who disguises herself as a boy to attend a yeshiva. It is there that she crosses paths with Avigdor, played by Patinkin, who she soon finds herself falling in love with despite his engagement to another.
Streisand, now 81, recalled a particular moment during the filming process when Patinkin, who was married at the time, behaved oddly. She said, “There was a moment, a week or so into the shoot, when Mandy and I were doing a scene in the yeshiva. I think he had two or three lines, but he wouldn’t look me in the eye. He just stared at my forehead.”
When Streisand confronted him about his behavior, she was taken aback by his response. She recounted, “His face crumpled, and he said, ‘I thought we were going to have a more personal relationship.’ ‘What?’ I had no idea what he was talking about. [He said,] ‘I thought we were going to have an affair.’ I looked at him as if he were crazy . . . 1) I would never have an affair with an actor I was directing, 2) he was married, and 3) I wasn’t at all attracted to him. But I couldn’t tell him he was not exactly fascinating to me. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I simply said, ‘I don’t operate that way.’ Tears rolled down his cheeks.”
Streisand went on to reveal that she had to threaten to replace Patinkin if his “behavior” persisted. She recalled telling him, “We’re only two weeks in. I can reshoot all your scenes if you can’t be more professional. I’ve waited fifteen years to realize my dream, and I will not let you destroy it.”
Reflecting on the experience, Streisand added, “By this point, Mandy had been making my life miserable for months, and I just couldn’t bear the thought of making love with him. I’m not that good an actress.”
In the midst of this tumultuous filming experience, it was clear that Streisand had to adapt to the situation. She ultimately rewrote the scene in question. Looking back, she questioned whether her frustration with Patinkin had influenced her decision to change the scene and if she should have allowed Yentl and the audience to experience that moment.
Patinkin has been married to fellow actor Kathryn Grody since 1980, while Streisand’s romantic history includes a marriage to Elliott Gould from 1963 to 1971 and a subsequent marriage to James Brolin in 1998.
In an interview with the BBC ahead of the release of her extensive memoir, Streisand admitted to not having had much fun in her life. She expressed her desire to embrace life more fully, saying, “I want to live life. I haven’t had much fun in my life, to tell you the truth. And I want to have more fun.”
