Barbra Streisand Once Considered Hypnosis to Tackle Stage Fright

BARBRA Streisand has revealed she once thought about using a hypnotist to overcome years of crippling stage fright before her 2023 book tour.

The legendary singer, who turned 84 recently, struggled with intense performance anxiety that began during her Broadway days in Funny Girl.

She admitted her co-star Sydney Chaplin’s cruel taunts and jeers on stage left her physically ill with nerves and fearing she’d forget her lines.

Streisand told how Sydney would mock her in front of audiences, calling her vicious names instead of sweet nothings.

“It was becoming a nightmare. Now, every night at seven-thirty as I prepared to go on, I felt sick to my stomach,” she said.

Her stage fright was so severe she even considered bringing a personal diva squad and a hypnotist along to manage her anxiety on tour.

She was inspired to try hypnosis after hearing rave reviews from friends, hoping it would help her finally control the nerves that had haunted her for decades.

Adding to her struggles, Streisand revealed her mother’s lack of support made performing even harder, recalling how her mother never gave her a compliment and often criticised her appearance.

“I dreaded what she might say. And sure enough, she didn’t disappoint me. ‘Your arms are too skinny,’” Streisand recalled.

Despite these challenges, Streisand refused to let the anxiety or her co-star’s behaviour destroy her career, pushing through to promote her memoir with pride.

Her openness about these personal battles shines a new light on the iconic performer’s resilience and determination to keep shining on stage.