American singer, actress and filmmaker Barbra Streisand was BOTD in 1942. Born in Brooklyn, New York City, she studied acting in high school, moving to Manhattan where she began performing in nightclubs. She landed a small but scene-stealing role in the 1962 Broadway musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale, and was hand-picked by Liberace as the opening act for his Las Vegas cabaret show. She began making television appearances, duetting with Judy Garland on The Judy Garland Show, and her 1963 debut solo album won multiple Grammys, including album of the year. She returned to Broadway to play Fanny Brice in the stratospherically successful musical Funny Girl. The role was tailor-made for Streisand’s talents – both were nice Jewish girls with lungs of brass and a line in self-deprecating humour – and became so identified with her that a Broadway revival was only attempted in 2022. She went on to star in William Wyler’s 1968 film adaptation, which became a box-office sensation, winning her an Oscar for best actress. She successfully juggled a recording career with film appearances, notably the film of stage musical Hello, Dolly!, a rock-n-roll remake of A Star is Born and the romantic drama The Way We Were. In 1983, she directed, co-wrote and starred in Yentl, a musical drama about a Jewish woman who disguises herself as a man, trains as a rabbi and marries a woman. Streisand’s penchant for drama and well-publicised personal insecurities endeared her to generations of gay fans, making her second only to Garland as the ultimate gay icon. She was married to the actor Elliot Gould, with whom she had a son, Jason, and has been married to James Brolin since 1996. Her support for Jason coming out as gay and HIV positive, and her support for LGBTQ causes has further cemented her gay icon status.