Barbra Streisand has spoken about her early experiences with sexism, including an incident with Sidney Chaplin – which contributed to her stage fright – which prevented her from performing for 27 years, before the release of her memoir.

The singer and actress recalled her strained relationship with Charlie Chaplin’s son when they both starred in “Funny Girl” on Broadway in the 1960s.

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“I don’t even like talking about itStreisand, 81, told the BBC ahead of the book’s release “My Name Is Barbra”. “It’s just a person who was in love with me, – which was unusual – and when I said, “I don’t want to have a relationship with you,” he turned on me in such a way that was very cruel.

He started mumbling while I was speaking on stage. Terrible words. Cursed words. And he wasn’t looking me in the eye anymore. And you know, when you’re acting, it’s very important to look at the other person and react to them».

This experience, said the great actress, upset her and contributed to her abandoning “live” performances. But throughout her career, she said she encountered other male partners who proved problematic.

Among them was Walter Matthau, who humiliated her on the set of “Hello, Dolly!” shouting: “I have more talent in my farts than you have in your whole body». But so did Frank Pierson, who publicly dissed the actress, calling her a “control freak, constantly demanding more close-ups.

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Barbra Streisand’s book also lists the men who were fascinated by her, such as Omar Sharif, who wrote her long, passionate letters, begging her to leave her husband, King Charles (then Prince Charles), who described as “shockingly attractive” with “great sex appeal” and Marlon Brando, who introduced himself by kissing the back of her neck, saying: “You can’t have a back like that and not be kissed.”

Streisand also addressed insults about her appearance early in her career. “Even after all these years, I’m still hurt by the insults and I can’t believe the praise,” he told the BBC.

Despite her considerable success, which includes 150 million records sold, nine Golden Globes, four Emmys and two Oscars (for acting and songwriting), she says she feels little happiness when she looks back on her life.

“I want to live life“, he said. “I haven’t had much fun in my life, to tell you the truth, and I want to have more fun».

Streisand spoke about her father’s death from a cerebral hemorrhage when she was 15 months old, leaving the family in poverty. Her mother’s new husband, a used car salesman, was distant and cruel.

“I don’t remember him ever talking to me or asking me questions,” she said. “He never saw me, neither did my mother. He didn’t see my passion to want to be an actor. It discouraged me».

Streisand left home at 16 and took a job as a clerk, working weekends as a theater usher so she could catch the latest Broadway shows.

“I was paid $4.50, I think it was, but I always hid my face because I thought someday I would be famous“, he said. “It’s not funny; I didn’t want people to recognize me on the screen and know that I once showed them their seats».

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Her dream of becoming famous began to come true in 1960 when she entered a talent contest with a prize of $50 and dinner. That night, she revealed, comedian Tiger Haynes’ girlfriend told her: “Baby girl, I see dollar signs all over you.”

Of course, she herself won the competition and after that her career was remarkable. But her real breakout role was in the Broadway and later film adaptation of Funny Girl, which earned Streisand her first Oscar. In 1983, Streisand also made her directorial debut with the film Yentl, the first Hollywood film in which a woman wrote, produced, directed and starred.

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Although her memoir tries to dispel the diva myth surrounding her, Barbra Streisand recalled some such moments, such as when she called Apple CEO Tim Cook to complain that the iPhone was mispronouncing her name.