When Barbra Streisand looks back on her storied career, few partnerships shine brighter than the one she shared with Robert Redford in The Way We Were. Recently, Streisand opened up about a touching phone call with Redford that took place decades after their iconic 1973 film, a moment that reminded her how rare and enduring their bond truly was.
The conversation happened as Streisand was working on the 50th-anniversary edition of The Way We Were, hoping to restore missing scenes and recapture the emotional depth that made the movie unforgettable. Unsure how Redford would feel about revisiting the project, she decided to reach out to him directly.
“I wanted to tell him what I was trying to do,” she recalled. “I wasn’t sure how he’d react, but I felt it was important to speak with him personally.”
What followed was an hour-long conversation that covered everything from filmmaking to politics, from art to the passage of time. Streisand described Redford as “open, thoughtful, and engaging, as always.” Though the years had passed, their connection seemed untouched by distance or fame.
As the call came to an end, Redford’s voice softened. “I gotta go, Babs,” he said. “I love you dearly, and I always will.” Streisand paused, her voice equally tender. “I love you too,” she replied.
That exchange stayed with her. It wasn’t grand or rehearsed—it was simple, sincere, and deeply human. For Streisand, it represented something greater than nostalgia: it was the echo of two lives that had once intertwined through art and emotion.
She later wrote that the call reminded her how rare it is to find a creative partner who can balance vulnerability and strength, intelligence and warmth. “We were different, but we understood each other,” she said. “That’s what made the film work.”
Though their characters in The Way We Were—Katie and Hubbell—were torn apart by ideals and circumstance, Streisand and Redford’s real-life relationship endured with mutual respect and admiration. Their chemistry on screen was no accident; it was built on trust, patience, and shared dedication to craft.
When Redford told her, “I love you dearly, and I always will,” Streisand knew he wasn’t speaking only about their past collaboration but about the friendship that had lasted across decades. It was a reminder that some connections—no matter how much time passes—remain untouched.
For fans, the story behind that phone call adds an intimate layer to one of Hollywood’s most beloved partnerships. For Streisand, it was a gentle goodbye wrapped in gratitude and grace.
“I’ll always treasure that moment,” she said softly. “It reminded me that love—of any kind, between any two people—never really fades. It just finds quieter ways to say goodbye.”
