Barbra Streisand talks undercover stage name and lifts lid on why she chose it

07 November 2023 , 06:03

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Barbra Streisand talks undercover stage name and lifts lid on why she chose it

Barbra Streisand revealed that she has a second name and has been using it since her time as a student actress.

In her new book My Name Is Barbra, the singer and actress explained that when she was taking acting classes, she wanted to learn as much as possible. As much as she adored her teacher, Barbra also wanted to expand her knowledge and try out another teacher, too. She was scared that it may hurt the feelings of her original teacher, so she signed up for classes under a different name.

After finding the name in a phone book, Barbra went undercover as Angelina Scarangella. She wrote: "I thought it sounded so beautiful, and I used it for years, whenever I wanted to be incognito. At Mount Sinai Hospital, where I gave birth to my son, Jason, I was listed as Angelina Scarangella."

READ MORE: Cheeky reason Barbra Streisand changed the spelling of her name

My Name Is Barbra is out now

She admitted that she'll need to change her alias (Getty Images North America)

She admitted that she continues to use the name by displaying it on her dressing room door backstage. However, the singer added that now she'll have to change her alias since the world now knows.

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Elsewhere in the book, the veteran star opened up on how she "still hurts" after she was targeted for her appearance. The Woman in Love singer revealed how she was told she should alter her nose and teeth to push her career forward more.

Despite the opinions causing her hurt to this day, she remains defiant in her decision that her talent was enough to see her through - something her hugely successful resume clearly proves.

She has revealed how she felt it would be "too much of a risk" to undergo surgery and suggested it might affect her voice. Barbra added that she had once been told by a doctor that she had a deviated septum and speculated that it may have influenced the way she sings.

She also confessed to a racy comment once made to her by fellow icon of the big screen, Marlon Brando. The confident actor, known for roles such as The Godfather, allegedly offered to take Barbra out on a date despite her being married.

My Name Is Barbra (published by Penguin) is now available to purchase in bookshops and on Amazon.

Alex West