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Meryl Streep raves about 'divine' Robert Redford, says iconic 'Out of Africa' scene 'felt so good'

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:17:58 -0400

Meryl Streep hinted at her undeniable spark with Robert Redford while revisiting one of her most iconic on-screen romances.

Decades after "Out of Africa" captivated audiences, Streep still remembers one scene with Redford as something more than scripted.

Streep starred as a Danish baroness who falls in love with a big-game hunter, played by Redford, while running a coffee plantation in colonial Kenya in the epic romantic drama. During a memorable scene from the film, Redford tenderly washes Streep's hair by a river while reciting lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

"Was he the most divine man in the world?" Streep gushed during a rewatch of some of her most famous movies with Vanity Fair.

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"It's not a sex scene. It's a love scene … He was really amazing," she recalled. "It was a great ... I didn't want that scene to end. It felt so good."

Streep has long been fond of her film and this particular scene with Redford. She touched on the iconic moment back in 2024, the year before Redford's death, at the Cannes Film Festival, according to Variety.

"It’s a sex scene in a way, because it’s so intimate," she said at the time. "We’ve seen so many scenes of people f---ing, but we don’t see that loving touch, that care."

The "Devil Wears Prada" star revealed filming the scene wasn't very pleasant. She claimed the two were warned by production to be wary of potentially dangerous wild animals nearby.

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"We had lions, but they were imported from California, and they were supposedly fine — tame. They were not," she said at Cannes, according to Metro.

"And the second thing we were told is the animal that kills the most people in Africa is the hippopotamus. If you get between the hippopotamus and the water," she added. "So we were shooting in the river and the hippopotamus were right above it. I don’t know if they show that in the movie, I can’t remember, but I was aware of it!"

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Redford, worried about safety, was having a hard time washing Streep's hair until longtime hairstylist and makeup artist Roy Hellund jumped in and demonstrated how he typically washed the actress' hair.

"Redford took the lesson, and he just really got into it, and he was great," Streep recalled. "By take five I was so in love! I didn’t want it to end that day, even in spite of the hippos."

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Redford was already a major Hollywood force by the time he took on the role of Denys Finch Hatton. He rose to fame in the late 1960s and ’70s with films like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting." Meanwhile, Streep had already earned acclaim for "The Deer Hunter" and "Kramer vs. Kramer" when she took on the role of Karen Blixen.

"Out of Africa," directed by Sydney Pollack, followed Blixen’s life running a coffee plantation in Kenya and her complicated romance with Redford’s Finch Hatton. The film won seven Academy Awards, including best picture and best director, and is often cited among the standout achievements for both actors.

Robert Redford's real-life love story began in Utah with wife who wasn't impressed with Hollywood fame

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 08:00:14 -0400

Robert Redford was initially attracted to Sibylle Szaggars once he learned she wasn't familiar with him or his movies.

The legendary actor was 89 when he died on Sept. 16 at his home in Sundance, Utah, his representative told Fox News Digital. Redford and Szaggars' love story began decades ago in those very mountains in Utah.

In 1996, the German-born artist ran into Redford while on a ski trip with friends at his Sundance Mountain Resort, which eventually became the same spot he founded the non-profit Sundance Institute to provide support for independent filmmakers.

In 2014, Szaggars shed some light on their first encounter.

ROBERT REDFORD DEAD AT 89

"I knew of him," Szaggars recalled during a discussion for the National YoungArts Foundation. "I had seen ‘Jeremiah Johnson,' one of my favorite films, and ‘Barefoot in the Park.’ But I have to also say: I’m not a film person, and I hadn’t been a film person. I was more interested in musicals, opera and painting and artists and Salvador Dalí and Picasso."

Szaggars said that Redford invited her and her group of friends out to dinner after a day on the slopes. "Oh my God, I don't know any of his films," she recalled thinking to herself.

One of Redford's friends told her that she could rent some of his movies at the reception. She rented several and watched short bursts of the six or eight movies that she rented in the chance that the star would bring any of them up, but he didn't.

"I thought, ‘What if he wants to talk about his movies?’ I have no idea — that would be so embarrassing. I probably would have mixed everything. Of course, he did not talk about it so I was rescued and saved," she said at the time.

Redford was also in attendance for the panel and admitted this is one of Szaggars' qualities that attracted him to her.

"That’s one of the things that attracted me to her—she didn’t know much about me."

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"So we started from a more even playing field. I didn’t have to worry about any agenda. I’d been through that before. And so it was a wonderful beginning of a relationship because it began as two human beings meeting each other and finding a connection as two human beings rather than being colored by success or whatever," Redford said at the time.

Prior to his romance with Szaggars, who he married in 2009, Redford was married to Lola Van Wagenen. The pair tied the knot in 1958 and later divorced. Redford and Szaggars did not have any of their own children, but she became stepmom to Redford's children from his marriage to Van Wagenen.

Redford and Szaggars kept their relationship private over the past several decades and rarely made any public comments about their romance. Prior to tying the knot in 2009, Redford spoke to the German magazine, Bunte, about their engagement.

"We are engaged and very happy with that. She is my fiancée and that says everything, doesn’t it?" he told the magazine in 2008.

Sticking to their theme of privacy, Redford and Szaggars kept their wedding very small, only inviting 30 friends and family members. They tied the knot at Louis C. Jacob Hotel in Hamburg, Germany, where Szaggars is from.

In 2011, Redford spoke to AARP The Magazine about Szaggars. "She's a very special person. She's younger than I am, and European, which I like, so that's a whole new life," he said at the time.

Szaggars was 21 years younger than Redford.

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During his illustrious career that spanned five decades of film, Redford became an Oscar-winning director as well as an activist. Szaggars also had an interest in activism.

In 2015, Redford and his wife founded The Way of the Rain, "which is organized exclusively for charitable, cultural and educational purposes, including the specific purpose of developing, producing and performing educational and artistic performances themed and designed to promote public awareness and support for the protection of our Earth," according to the non-profit organization's website.

Szaggars and Redford were last publicly photographed together at Prince Albert II of Monaco's 2021 award ceremony, which highlights organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving the planet.

Redford and Szaggars were both wearing white at the event and posed for photos.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox took to Instagram shortly after Redford's death to shed some light on his life in his state.

"Decades ago, Robert Redford came to Utah and fell in love with this place. He cherished our landscapes and built a legacy that made Utah a home for storytelling and creativity. Through Sundance and his devotion to conservation, he shared Utah with the world."

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"Today we honor his life, his vision, and his lasting contribution to our state," Cox captioned a photo of Redford on a horse in Utah.

Redford's representative shared a statement with Fox News Digital on Sept. 16, confirming his passing.

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"Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy," his representative said.

The Hollywood icon was best known for classics like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting."

Before he became the rugged screen icon of the 1970s, Redford grew up in Santa Monica, California.

After skyrocketing to fame in the ’60s, Redford dominated the ’70s box office with back-to-back hits like "The Candidate," "The Way We Were" and "All the President’s Men." He capped off the decade with an Oscar win for best director in 1980 for "Ordinary People," which also took home best picture.

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Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

Robert Redford remembered as Meryl Streep, Ron Howard and Ethan Hawke pay tribute

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:19:56 -0400

Legendary actor, director and icon of American cinema Robert Redford died Tuesday at age 89.

His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood stars including Meryl Streep, Scarlett Johansson, Marlee Matlin, Ron Howard and others.

Redford’s rep confirmed the beloved actor’s death to Fox News Digital.

ROBERT REDFORD DEAD AT 89

"Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved," a representative shared in a statement. "He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy."

Barbra Streisand, who starred opposite Redford in "The Way We Were," remembered both the on-screen chemistry and the off-screen connection they shared.

"Every day on the set of ‘The Way We Were’ was exciting, intense and pure joy," Streisand said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie."

"Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting — and one of the finest actors ever."

As she reflected on their final visit, Streisand shared a touching memory: "The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings."

She concluded, "He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him."

Scarlett Johansson, who made her breakout performance under Redford’s direction in "The Horse Whisperer," expressed her gratitude for his early mentorship.

"Bob Redford cast me in ‘The Horse Whisperer’ when I was 11 years old. Every day before each scene, he would take the time to sit with me and walk me through all of the beats that led my character up until that particular point in the story," Johansson recalled in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"No matter the reality of the day's rush, I always felt he had all the time in the world for our work. Bob created an environment on set that was calm and precious; a place where actors could make discoveries. He was patient and warm and kind."

She added, "Bob taught me what acting could be… from his generosity and patience, I was inspired to pursue the possibilities of the craft. That same generosity and love of the art inspired Bob’s creation of Sundance… where filmmakers learn from one another, inspire one another, and discover one another’s talent."

"Bob, thank you for your belief in me and for your grace and guidance. You inspired so many artists, me included, to go deeper, to stay present, to push creative boundaries, and to explore further, and for that, we are forever grateful."

Streep, his co-star in "Out of Africa" and "Lions for Lambs," also honored the Hollywood legend.

"One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace, my lovely friend," she said, according to Deadline.

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Jane Fonda mourned the loss of her longtime friend. The two shared more than five decades of friendship — Redford landed a breakout role in Neil Simon’s "Barefoot in the Park," first on the Broadway stage and then on screen alongside Fonda in 1967.

"It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for," she shared in a statement, according to People.

Oscar winner Marlee Matlin took to social media to share a heartfelt tribute.

"Our film, ‘CODA,’ came to the attention of everyone because of Sundance. And Sundance happened because of Robert Redford. A genius has passed. RIP Robert," Matlin wrote on X.

Actress Laura Dern took to Instagram to pay tribute to the late actor, sharing an old photo of the two of them together, as well as a few photos of him on set.

"Thanks to my father, I have met and known some remarkable humans. Today, we lost a magnificent hero of cinema/voice/justice and, our Earth," she wrote in the caption. "Thank you, Pop, for letting me have a birdseye view to your friendship… and to incredible "Redford" … for all you’ve given all of us."

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His former "Indecent Proposal" co-star, Demi Moore, posted a clip of one of their scenes together on Instagram.

"The world has lost an incredible actor, director, husband, father, friend," she wrote in the caption. "Robert’s legacy will live on forever in so many ways and I will carry the many memories we share close to my heart. What I would do for just one more dance ♥️."

Redford starred in popular films including "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," a box-office smash from which his Sundance Film Institute and festival got their names. He played opposite Paul Newman in the 1969 film.

He founded the Sundance Film Institute in 1981.

"Robert’s legacy remains ingrained in our culture, transformed by his artistry, activism and the founding of Sundance Institute and Film Festival," Ethan Hawke said on Instagram, adding that Redford was a "relentless advocate for authentic storytelling and a fiercely passionate environmentalist."

Some of Hawke's own films, including "Before Sunrise" and "Boyhood," have previously premiered at Sundance.

Elizabeth McGovern, who worked with Redford on "Ordinary People," remembered more than just his films.

"Robert Redford gave me my first job in ‘Ordinary People,’ setting a high bar in terms of a subsequent career," she shared in a statement to People.

"His intelligence, empathy and understanding, not only as a filmmaker, but also as a person have been difficult to match. When we shot ‘Ordinary People,' he did my scenes on the weekend so that I could attend The Juilliard School during the week. This was the kind of caring person he was. I revered him then; I revere him now."

Actor and filmmaker Ron Howard paid tribute to Redford’s influence in the industry.

"RIP & thank you Robert Redford, a tremendously influential cultural figure for the creative choices made as an actor/producer/director & for launching the Sundance Film Festival which supercharged America’s Independent Film movement. Artistic Gamechanger," he wrote on X.

Actress Julianne Moore shared an old photo of her and Redford on Instagram, calling him "the first movie star that I ever loved."

My sister sent me this photo this morning from #sundance - it was very hard for me to behave normally in his presence. #RIP Robert Redford," she wrote in the caption. "We will all miss you ❤️."

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, actor Ralph Fiennes said, "I’m incredibly sad to learn of Robert Redford’s death."

"The Schindler’s List" star recalled working closely with Redford on the 1994 drama "Quiz Show," a pivotal moment in his early Hollywood career.

"Thirty two years ago he cast me in ‘Quiz Show’ alongside John Turturro and Rob Morrow," Fiennes said. "I remember his patience and kindness as I became acquainted with all things '50s America — and American culture generally. It was challenging and intense and fun."

Fiennes praised Redford’s mentorship and said, "I loved his droll sense of humour as he guided me through screen acting skills and process."

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"His maverick spirit was readily apparent, and he made clear his wariness regarding Hollywood clichés and practice," Fiennes added. "I treasure my experience of working with him, which was also an introduction to a great filmmaker with a true artistic vision of an American cinema that could be intelligent, original and politically provocative."

Fiennes also reflected on a personal moment with Redford that left a lasting impression.

"He took me riding near his home in New Mexico. I’m no horseman, but he made me feel I could be."

He concluded, "The filmmaking world is smaller without him."

Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred alongside Redford in the film "Up Close and Personal," shared a photo from the movie on Instagram, writing, "Until we meet again, my friend. 🤍"

Marisa Tomei took to Instagram to pay tribute to the Hollywood legend, sharing a clip of him in the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

"The Sundance Kid, waving one last time," she wrote in the caption. "Redford’s generosity wasn’t just in his art, but how he showed up for the world. when Ms. Magazine was starting out, his pr office shared the same building. he volunteered his gorgeous back for their oct ’75 cover, knowing the attention would help. always lending his weight to something bigger than himself. a legend in every sense. 🕊️"

Author Stephen King reflected on the era Redford helped define.

"Robert Redford has passed away. He was part of a new and exciting Hollywood in the 70s and 80s. Hard to believe he was 89," King wrote on X.

Actress Rita Wilson shared a heartfelt statement on Instagram alongside a photo of Redford.

"Robert Redford. Your art stands the test of time. Your love of young filmmakers and artists gave us Sundance Film Festival," Wilson wrote. "You showed us the importance of nature. As a director, we were able to see your art from behind the camera. You will be remembered always. And you will be missed. May your memory be eternal."

Jamie Lee Curtis also honored Redford with a black-and-white photo of the Hollywood actor.

"A life! Family, art, transformation, advocacy, creation, legacy … Thank you Robert Redford," she posted on social media.

Rosie O’Donnell honored Redford with a photo of him as Hubbell Gardiner in "The Way We Were."

"Oh Hubbell — we will never be the same. Goodnight Bob — what a legacy," she posted on Instagram.

Actor Colman Domingo also weighed in with a nod to Redford’s lasting influence.

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"With love and admiration. Thank you, Mr. Redford, for your everlasting impact. Will be felt for generations. R.I.P," he shared on X.

"Superman" director James Gunn honored Redford for his legendary work in several popular Hollywood films.

"THE movie star," Gunn declared on social media. "I grew up with his movies: his quiet, unforced performances and ever-present grace… He […] will be greatly missed."

William Shatner added on X, "Condolences to the family of Robert Redford."

While actor Ben Stiller shared on social media, "No actor more iconic," with a photo of Redford.

"Law & Order: SVU" star, Mariska Hargitay posted a photo of her and Redford on the red carpet together, and shared some wise words the actor once shared with her.

"'Always speak from your heart,' Robert Redford told me once when I had the good fortune to meet him. The simplest words, but profound and life-changing coming from him. Deepest respect for his life lived from the heart."

Alec Baldwin reflected on Redford’s kindness and support during a difficult chapter in his own life.

"I just want to say a quick thing about Bob Redford. Like all of the greats, the biggest names in this business… all of those people of that generation, they were the greatest guys and women… the biggest movie stars, they were very kind… obviously Bob, Newman… Hoffman, Hackman, Nicholson, Al, DeNiro," Baldwin said in an Instagram video.

Baldwin went on to share a personal gesture from Redford during the time of his tragic on-set shooting death of a cinematographer during his film "Rust."

"I got a letter from Bob Redford when it was over… unsolicited… ‘I’m so glad it turned out this way, I’m so sorry what you had to go through.’ I got the loveliest letter from Robert Redford," Baldwin said.

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Fox News Digital's Lori A. Bashian contributed to this story.

Robert Redford dead at 89

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:33:52 -0400

Legendary actor Robert Redford has died. He was 89.

"Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved," his representative told Fox News Digital. "He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy."

The Hollywood icon was best known for classics like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting."

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Before he became the rugged screen icon of the 1970s, Redford grew up in Santa Monica, California.

Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on Aug. 18, 1936, the all-American heartthrob started out studying art and chasing a future as a painter before turning to acting—eventually landing at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

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Redford made early appearances on "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Untouchables" in the late 1950s and early '60s.

As for his Broadway career, Redford landed a breakout role in Neil Simon’s "Barefoot in the Park," first on stage and then on screen alongside Jane Fonda.

During his illustrious career that spanned five decades of film, Redford became an Oscar-winning director as well as an activist.

Behind the camera, Redford elevated independent film. He took on gritty roles and built the Sundance Film Festival from the ground up.

What began as a training ground for undiscovered filmmakers in the mountains of Park City, Utah – where Redford initially planned to open a ski resort – quickly transformed into the most important independent film festival in the world.

"For me, the word to be underscored is ‘independence,’" Redford told the Associated Press in 2018. "I’ve always believed in that word. That’s what led to me eventually wanting to create a category that supported independent artists who weren’t given a chance to be heard.

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"The industry was pretty well controlled by the mainstream, which I was a part of. But I saw other stories out there that weren’t having a chance to be told and I thought, ‘Well, maybe I can commit my energies to giving those people a chance.’ As I look back on it, I feel very good about that."

By 2025, the festival had grown so large that organizers announced they would be relocating out of Park City.

Redford didn’t just play the leading man — he additionally took on politics with the kind of boldness that became his Hollywood signature.

In 1972, Redford took on an American political role in "The Candidate," playing an idealistic U.S. Senate hopeful whose idealism crumbled by the final scene. He delivered one of the most iconic final lines in political cinema, "What do we do now?"

Four years later, Redford starred as real-life Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward in "All the President’s Men," diving headfirst into the Watergate scandal.

Meanwhile, during Redford's acting career, he shared the screen with Hollywood icons including Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and Paul Newman.

While Redford pulled back from acting in the '80s and '90s to focus on directing and building the indie film scene, he still starred in several popular films. He acted opposite Streep in the 1985 drama "Out of Africa," and nearly 30 years later stunned critics in the survival film "All Is Lost" in 2013.

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His other directing efforts included "The Horse Whisperer," "The Milagro Beanfield War" and 1994's "Quiz Show," the last of which also earned best picture and director Oscar nominations. In 2002, Redford received an honorary Oscar, with academy organizers citing him as "actor, director, producer, creator of Sundance, inspiration to independent and innovative filmmakers everywhere."

Redford was married twice, most recently to Sibylle Szaggars. He had four children, two of whom have died – Scott Anthony, who died in infancy in 1959, and James Redford, an activist and filmmaker who died in 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Meryl Streep’s favorite love scene was with Robert Redford, admits she ‘didn't want it to end'

Wed, 15 May 2024 19:15:36 -0400

Meryl Streep reflected on her famous shampoo scene with Robert Redford in the 1985 movie "Out of Africa."

In the epic romantic drama, Streep starred as a Danish baroness who falls in love with a big game hunter, played by Redford, while running a coffee plantation in colonial South Africa.

During a memorable scene from the film, Redford tenderly washes Streep's hair by a river while reciting lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

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"It’s a sex scene in a way, because it’s so intimate," the 74-year-old actress said during a Wednesday conversation at Cannes’ Théâtre Debussy, per Variety. "We’ve seen so many scenes of people f------, but we don’t see that loving touch, that care."

While speaking at Cannes, Streep recalled that filming the scene initially wasn't very pleasant. According to the UK Metro, she told the crowd that she and Redford, now 87, were warned by the production to be wary of potentially dangerous wild animals nearby.

"We had lions, but they were imported from California and they were supposedly fine — tame. They were not," the actress said, per the outlet.

"And the second thing we were told is the animal that kills the most people in Africa is the hippopotamus, if you get between the hippopotamus and the water," she added.

"So we were shooting in the river and the hippopotamus were right above it. I don’t know if they show that in the movie, I can’t remember, but I was aware of it!"

Streep recalled that Redford was worried about their safety and wasn't washing her hair well at first.

"It wasn’t good," she admitted.

However, Streep's longtime hair stylist and makeup artist Roy Hellund jumped in and demonstrated how he typically washed the actress's hair, which Streep described as "the best part of my day."

"Redford took the lesson, and he just really got into it, and he was great," Streep recalled. "By take five I was so in love!’

"I didn’t want it to end that day, even in spite of the hippos," she added.

Directed by Sydney Pollack, "Out of Africa" was based on Karen Blixen's 1937 autographical book of the same name. The film was a box office hit and received 11 Academy Award nominations, including a best actress nod for Streep.

"Out of Africa" went on to take home seven Oscars, including best picture and best director for Pollack.

During a 1985 interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Streep praised Redford, telling the outlet that she found him "very charming."

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"We really got to know each other after he arrived in Africa," she said. "I developed this huge crush on him, which made it easier to do the love story. He’s really wonderful to work with."

She continued, "He has an unusual quality for a man — he has a very receptive way about him and is an incredibly good listener. That’s an attribute people usually associate with women. So for women, he’s very easy to talk to."

The two later teamed up again in the 2007 war thriller "Lions for Lambs," which also starred Tom Cruise.

On Tuesday, Streep received a two-minute standing ovation when she was presented with an honorary Palme d’Or during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

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During her conversation at the Théâtre Debussy, the three-time Academy Award winner shared how she had been touched by the warm reception at the Palme d’Or presentation.

"I felt just a wave of feeling coming from the audience, and it’s so much bigger than I thought — so many tiers of people, all the way up to the top," she said. "Yeah, it was a lot. I live a very quiet life, and really I don’t get any respect at home, so it’s sort of amazing to come into this arena and have that big tidal wave."

Streep later said that she never set out to make movies that she thought would become box office hits.

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"The ones that ended up being blockbusters — ‘Mamma Mia!’ and ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ — happened when I was 58 and 60, and I never thought they were going to be anything but fun," she said, according to the Hollywood Reporter .

"I didn’t know they were going to be big, but I knew that I could get them made."

Robert Redford wore two pairs of undies to 'protect himself' from Barbra Streisand in 'The Way We Were': book

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 11:42:47 -0500

Safety came first for Robert Redford on the set of his sweeping romantic drama.

The actor allegedly wore "two athletic supporters" to film his love scene with Barbra Streisand for their 1973 film "The Way We Were."

The claim was made by author Robert Hofler in his book published on Tuesday titled "The Way They Were: How Epic Battles and Bruised Egos Brought a Classic Hollywood Love Story to the Screen."

The book, timed to the 50th anniversary of the film’s release, explores how the instant classic was "a nightmare to make, with a difficult cast, a jumbled plot about mismatched partners, countless delays and rewrites, on-set tensions between everyone involved, difficulties at every step of the production, the skyrocketing demands of Ms. Streisand, a leading man who happily ditched premieres on both coasts and mixed critical reviews."

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Reps for Redford, 86, and Streisand, 80, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The U.K.'s DailyMail published the original excerpt on Wednesday. Fox News Digital obtained a copy of the book.

Hofler claimed that Redford was reluctant to work alongside the "Funny Girl" star, and when it was time to get in bed with Streisand, the Hollywood heartthrob did not take any chances. He allegedly doubled up on the jock straps "to protect himself in more ways than one," while Streisand "chose to don a bikini."

"Redford was a happily married family man with four children when he signed to do 'The Way We Were,'" Hofler explained in his book.

"It was a pretty G-rated scene," assistant director Michael Britton shared.

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Producer Ray Stark cautioned that he did not want "a heavily shadowed nude scene." However, the film was going to be rated PG, and he had already deleted a "f---" from the script to avoid "a dreaded R rating." This would ensure "the largest audience possible" at the box office.

The intimate scene was supposed to be a simple one to film on a closed set. However, Britton said, "there were a lot of takes." At one point, Redford looked at director Sydney Pollack, implying he had enough. Redford would later joke to a Newsweek reporter that the only thing he wore on set for the scene was "Aramis," the Estée Lauder fragrance for men.

"Redford tended to do his best in the first take, maybe the second, rarely the third, never the fourth," Hofler wrote. "From there, he tended to lose energy and concentration."

Eventually, Redford "lost patience and Pollack had no choice but to inform his female star, 'I think we’ve got it.'" Editor John Burnett was said to be "amazed at how much footage he had to work with to put together the simple lovemaking scene."

ROBERT REDFORD DID NOT WANT TO STAR ALONGSIDE BARBRA STREISAND IN 'THE WAY WE WERE': BOOK

However, there may have been another reason why Redford was wary about the love scene. The book alleged Streisand was "infatuated" and "mesmerized" with her co-star, who was playing a "Ken doll," as he described.

"Barbra Streisand was a star who reportedly had affairs with many of her leading men," claimed an unnamed member from the film set.

During their second love scene, Redford allegedly refused to say the line, "It will be better this time," because he felt people would assume he was not a good lover.

"Redford was never bad in bed" so his character couldn’t be either, Hofler noted.

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The book claimed Redford had concerns about his leading lady from the start. The actor told Pollack he did not believe Streisand was "a serious actress" because she "had never been tested."

"Her reputation is as a very controlling person," said Redford, as quoted in the book. "She will direct herself. It’ll never work… She’s not going to sing, is she? I don’t want her to sing in the middle of the movie."

Streisand went on to sing the film’s iconic theme song, "The Way We Were."

It took eight months of "incessant wooing" from Pollack for Redford to finally sign on. Ryan O’Neal was at one point another name being considered for the film.

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On set, it was easy to see that Streisand "had a massive crush on Bob," but the two could not be more different.

"Barbra wanted precision; Redford, spontaneity," said Pollack. "Barbra likes lengthy rehearsals and multiple takes. Redford is better in his early takes. After that, he just gets bored."

Still, there was no denying that for their first reading, it was like a "lightning bolt" went off in the room.

There was one thing the stars had in common. The book claimed they both preferred having the left side of their faces to be on camera. Cinematographer Harry Stradling Jr. claimed that during scenes shot in New York City, they erected canopies everywhere to block the light from hitting Streisand’s face because her nose looked "terrible." As for Redford, he did not like showing the three moles on the right side of his face.

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The film became a hit and a sequel was even discussed. However, Redford shot down the possibility. The actor said he never had any interest in making a second part, "but Barbra did."

Robert Redford did not want to star alongside Barbra Streisand in 'The Way We Were': book

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 21:57:50 -0400

Although the 1973 romance-drama "The Way We Were" was a hit, Robert Redford was apparently hesitant to star alongside his female lead, Barbra Streisand.

In Robert Hofler’s upcoming book, "The Way They Were: How Epic Battles and Bruised Egos Brought a Classic Hollywood Love Story to the Screen," Redford's initial reasoning on not wanting to work with the Grammy-award winner is detailed.

"She will direct herself. It’ll never work," Redford — who reportedly thought Streisand had a "controlling" reputation — told the late director Sydney Pollack, according to Hofler's book via the New York Post.

Redford also raised concerns on whether Streisand would sing during the film.

"She’s not going to sing, is she?" he asked, Hofler wrote in the book which is an oral history of the movie. "I [don’t] want her to sing in the middle of the movie."

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Per Hofler, Pollack also reportedly once said, "Barbra had never worked with a really strong leading man."

"She has a tendency to take over a picture, just by the size of her talent and larger-than-life presence. It’s hard for a co-star to stay in the same ring with her," Pollack, who died in 2008, said.

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Holfer’s book explains that he believed only Redford would have been able to work with Streisand.

"In acting, you have to sense that there’s a reserve somewhere, that you’re seeing the top of the iceberg," Pollack explained.

The director continued: "Redford makes you come to him as a performer. He holds his ground, and you either enter his turf or you don’t get it. Period. He will not court you … I spent literally eight months beating him to death in order to get him to do it. I would not let him off the hook."

After the first film’s success, a sequel was proposed to both stars. However, Redford was not willing to reprise his role.

"I didn’t, but Barbra did," he said of returning to his role, per Hofler's book.

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Streisand recently spoke to the Guardian about her long list of iconic roles and how she still gets frustrated when people mispronounce her last name.

She explained her last name is "Strei-sand," not "Strei-zand."

"It’s the funniest thing to me that people still can’t seem to get my name right," she shared with the outlet. "Even today, I had to correct my new assistant."

Betty White's 'crush' Robert Redford honors late actress following her death at age 99

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 12:40:42 -0500

Robert Redford commented on the death of iconic actress Betty White, who was very public over the years about her crush on him.

The "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" actress died on Friday just weeks before her 100th birthday. As the world mourned the loss, Redford joined the myriad of celebrities who knew and/or respected White speaking out about what her loss meant to them.

In a statement issued to Fox News Digital, Redford said that he admired the way White lived her life by dedicating herself to the things she loved.

"Betty lived life devoted to her craft and her love of animals. She made us all laugh, including me," he said.

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The "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" star added: "I had a crush on her too!"

Redford was referencing the fact that White noted on multiple occasions that she had a bit of a Hollywood crush on the actor throughout the years. Most recently, she spoke with People ahead of her 100th birthday in which she discussed Ryan Reynolds, who she co-starred with in the 2009 film "The Proposal," and his ongoing joke that she is his ex-girlfriend.

"I've heard Ryan can't get over his thing for me," she told the outlet. "But Robert Redford is The One."

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In 2019 when she was celebrating her 97th birthday, E News! reported that her representative released a statement jokingly stating that White was waiting for Redford to give her a call.

Despite her ongoing joke about being in love with the Hollywood heartthrob, White explained in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that she never actually met Redford and that she was fine with that.

"I don't know him. I just worship from afar," she said. "If I ever met him, I'd faint."

While White had an ongoing joke about her affection for Redford, her true love was her husband, Allen Ludden. The duo was married from 1963 until his death in 1981. White did not remarry.

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White and Ludden met in 1961 when the actress appeared as a celebrity guest on the hit game show "Password," hosted by Ludden. The week White filmed her appearance was the week that Ludden's first wife died, the star previously told the Archive of American Television (AAT).

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After spending a few weeks together working on a project with their families in tow, Ludden would propose marriage to White rather than say "hello."

Fox News’ Nate Day contributed to this report.