Robert Redford Wore 2 Pairs of Underpants to Costar with ‘Controlling’ Barbra Streisand, Claims Book

• Throughout his career, Robert Redford starred alongside a range of famous female actresses.
• All of the leading ladies who starred opposite Redford were mesmerized by the actor, with one even describing him as "the best kisser in Hollywood."
• Redford and Barbara Streisand developed a complicated relationship while working together, with Streisand reportedly becoming captivated by him.

While many entertainers have left lasting impressions with their co-stars, few have had such a great influence on the ladies starring alongside them as the "Out of Africa" star, Robert Redford. Throughout his years working as an actor, Redford starred opposite a number of famous faces, all of whom commented on his charm.

Redford starred alongside the likes of numerous Hollywood greats, including Meryl Streep, Natalie Wood, Barbara Streisand, and Betty White. After he starred with each actress, they all commented on how mesmerizing it was to work with him. Betty White's assistant, Kiersten, revealed how close the two actors had been before White's death.

White's assistant reminisced on the late comedy legend's life on what would have been her 98th birthday, sharing a snap of two cardboard cutouts. One showed a bear named Bam Bam, while the other was a life-sized image of Redford, smiling in a suit. Both were adorned with party hats and pink birthday balloons.

Although they came from different backgrounds, they soon realized they shared a multitude of traits.

Kiersten wrote about how close White and Redford were while the actress was still alive, captioning the post, "Two of Betty's absolute favorites - Bam Bam and Bob." White and Redford had known each other professionally for years, having worked together on a number of projects over the years.

Much like White, all the other women Redford had worked with throughout his career were infatuated with the actor. Streisand commented that she was "mesmerized" with Redmond after they starred opposite each other in the 1973 film, "The Way We Were." In fact, Streisand and Redford built a close bond over the years.

How Streisand and Redford Became Close

Although Streisand and Redford seemed like they were entirely different people at first, the two slowly got to know each other while they worked together. Streisand commented that she came from a Jewish family based in Brooklyn. She grew up playing with her friends in the streets, while Redford was a California local — entirely her opposite.

Years after they worked together, Streisand commented on how much she enjoyed starring opposite him when Redford was presented with the Chaplin Award in 2015.

Although they came from different backgrounds, they soon realized they shared a multitude of traits. The actress confessed that she had made the same mistake many people made when they first saw Redford — she had misjudged him entirely. Streisand soon realized that they shared similar upbringings, which made it easy for them to connect.

Although they eventually broke through the preconceptions that kept them at arm's length from each other, the author of the book "The Way They Were: How Epic Battles and Bruised Egos Brought a Classic Hollywood Love Story to the Screen" noted that Redford didn't see Streisand as a serious actress.

Streisand, on the other hand, was instantly attracted to her co-star, despite the fact that she thought they wouldn't get along. Redford initially refused to work with Streisand, noting that she was "controlling" and questioning whether she had the range to portray the weighty role that she was cast in.

Redford even refused to meet Streisand before they started filming but eventually agreed to lunch. When they first met each other, Streisand fell head-over-heels, developing a crush on the actor even before they started working together. Redford kept the actress at a distance, adopting an air of stark professionalism. Meanwhile, he commented on Streisand, "She was drooling."

Even when they had to film a love scene, Redford donned two pairs of underwear, while Streisand wore a bikini. Robert Hofler wrote in his book that the actor made the choice to "protect himself in more ways than one." Nonetheless, the strange chemistry that was brewing between them was precisely what made the film so memorable.

Redford and Streisand's Lives after Working Together

In the end, the film was a huge success, and Streisand even won an Academy Award for her performance. After the film became a hit, there were talks of a sequel, which Streisand was entirely in support of. Redford, on the other hand, had no interest in reprising his role, which eventually stopped the film from being made.

Years after they worked together, Streisand commented on how much she enjoyed starring opposite him when Redford was presented with the Chaplin Award in 2015. She shared, "I'd like to say, 'Dear Bob, it was such fun being married to you for a while. Too bad it didn't work out. But we made something that will last much longer than many real marriages.'"

Streisand went on to star in numerous other iconic films, solidifying her as a talented actress. She also launched a highly successful music career. Redford kept starring in iconic movies and even tried his hand at filmmaking and producing, but eventually retired from acting, noting that he wanted to spend some time with his family.

Both Redford and Streisand went on to have happy marriages after their time working together. Redford married Lola Van Wagenen, and the pair had four children together. Although Redford retired from the entertainment industry, he passed his talents on to some of his children, who followed in his footsteps.

Streisand eventually married the acclaimed actor James Brolin, and the two blended their families. Streisand shares one son with her ex-husband Elliot Gould, while Brolin brought four kids to the mix, Eden Brolin, Chapel Grace Brolin, Trevor Brolin, and Westlyn Reign Brolin.

In 2020, Streisand and Brolin became grandparents for a second time when Josh Brolin and his wife welcomed a little girl called Westlyn Brolin. Besides the little girl, the two are also grandparents to Trevor Brolin. Streisand has been seen with her granddaughter on many occasions and often posts pictures of them together.

While Streisand spends her days with her blended brood, Redford has devoted much of his time to philanthropy while his children explore filmmaking. His daughter, Amy Redford, has made a name for herself as a talented filmmaker, citing her dad as one of her biggest influences.