Friends!

Friends! Recently her 75th anniversary celebrated one of the greatest `American actresses Jewish Barbara Streisand. And did you know that the roots of the famous actress and singer are Ukrainian?

Grandfather of Barbara Streisand - Isaac was born in Western Ukraine, in Berezhany town in Ternopil region. His family lived in poverty, the house had two rooms where all the family slept on benches. Isaac decided to seek a better life and leaved Berezhany in 1898. As it turned out, forever.

He emigrated to America, suffered terrible 15 days on the ship. Then this exhausting journey cost many immigrants their lives, their dead bodies simply were thrown overboard.

At the customs control, Isaak Streisand filled customs declaration: "Nationality: Galician. Other location: Berezhany. Don’t have any money."

Cousin of the Isaac then lived for some time in New York. So he moved in with him.

Later he took marriage with Anna Keston, also emigrant. Some claim that she was born in Galicia, others say - in Volyn.

Isaac and Anna also did not live in luxury. They had five children, the eldest of them - Emmanuel - became the father of Barbara Streisand. She was born on the 24th of April, 1942 in Brooklyn. Her mother was a singer in her youth, but the stage did not work, and she became a school secretary. His father was a school teacher, so they met there. When Barbara was just a year, Emmanuel died. Her mother married again but stepfather did not love Barbara, who was closed, not very pretty, but extremely arrogant. Classmates also did not like her.

But she had huge ambitions and said : "I'll be a movie star and sing for US president." From these words, even her parents laughed, but the girl did not stop. After high school, she has not forgotten about her dream. Despite the fact that everything said she was ugly and has no future in showbiz, Barbara was convinced that the main thing - is originality. First, she became a singer in a local bar. When she came to audition, visitors began to whistle. But when they heard her magical voice – the became silent. It was the first victory of Barbara Streisand.

Then she changed the name to "Barbra" to be more original. For the first time on the big stage she came out in 1962, played in the musical. She was noticed by the producer, after that they made the first album «The Barbra Streisand Album», which brought her extraordinary popularity.

But Barbra wanted to become the movie star! She played in the Broadway musical "Funny Girl" when it was planned to make it a film. Barbra knew that she wanted to do everything possible to get the main role. In the samples, they had to play the scene of a kiss between two actors. Then Streisand as fiercely attacked the actor Omar Sharif that his mouth bleed. He was afraid of it, but it was clear to the crew this is what they needed. And it was true because for the role in «Funny girl" Barbra got her first "Oscar" as the best actress.

Although appearance of Barbra was criticized from the childhood, she did not have problems with men. She even created a "phenomenon of Streisand." Actor Omar Sharif described it. First, when someone saw Barbra, it seemed that she was extremely ugly. Then this feeling became softer and this developed into a deep love to her talent.

Barbra has fulfilled all her dreams - even sang for President! When Bill Clinton was 49, she called him and sang «Happy Birthday».

Friends, Barbra has fulfilled all her dreams - and now she lives a happy life with her loved one. I would like you all to remember the example of this courageous woman who went to the goal despite all obstacles. Fairy tales come true, and Cinderella story of Streisand is the direct evidence of this.