Richard E. Grant Wrote a Fan Letter to Barbra Streisand 47 Years Ago — He Finally Got a Response
Richard E. Grant has finally had his teenage dream fulfilled.
The actor, who is a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of Barbra Streisand, revealed this week that he wrote a letter to the Funny Girl star when he was 14-years-old. Flash forward 47 years, and Grant has finally received the answer he’s been waiting for.
It all started with a tweet posted on Tuesday, in which Grant, 61, shared that he had taken a trip to Streisand’s home and snapped a pic outside of her residence — with permission, of course.
“As a lifelong fan of someone you’ll understand what it meant for me to take this snap outside the home of @BarbraStreisand,” he wrote. “Asked Security for permission & he replied ‘It’s a public road, but thanks for asking'”
“Wrote her this letter when I was 14,” Grant added, before clarifying, “My wife is very understanding!”
Along with the message and selfie of himself smiling outside of Streisand’s gated home, he included a copy of a fan letter he wrote the actress when he was a teen.
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In the note, he professed his fandom and concern for Streisand, suggesting she should stay at his family’s quiet home located in the southeast African kingdom of Swaziland.
“You don’t know me yet, but I am writing to offer you an idea you might like to consider,” he began, adding that he’s been a “big fan” of Streisand’s since watching her in Funny Girl.
“I read in the paper that you were feeling very tired and pressurized by your fame and failed romance with Mr Ryan O’Neal,” he explained. “I would like to offer you a two-week holiday, or longer, at our house, which is very beautiful with a pool and a magnificent view of the Ezulwini Valley. Which the Swazi people call Valley of Heaven. I think you will agree when you see it.”
“Here you can rest. No one will trouble you and I assure you, you will not be mobbed in the street as your films only show in our one cinema for three days, so not that many people will know who you are,” he continued. “Please consider this respite seriously. You will always be welcome.”
Hours after posting the sweet note, Streisand, 76, finally delivered the much-anticipated response to Grant — and things got emotional.
“Dear Richard What a wonderful letter you wrote me when u were 14 ! and look at u now! You’re terrific in your latest movie with Melissa,” she wrote, referencing Grant’s most recent film Can You Ever Forgive Me? alongside Melissa McCarthy.
“congratulations and love Barbra,” she finished.
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Grant quickly tweeted back to the actress and thanked her for her kind words.
“I cannot begin to properly express what your generous reply has meant to me! THANK YOU. And most especially for NOT calling Security to have me arrested!!” he wrote, adding six red hearts to the end of his reply.
But while he seemed relatively calm and collected in his tweet, the actor revealed things were a bit more emotional when he first learned from his daughter that Streisand had finally responded after more than four decades.
“My pal Nicole Wilcox took this photo as my daughter read me @BarbraStreisand ‘s tweet/response to a letter I sent her 47 yrs ago. Am completely crinkle faced & overcome with emotion. My ‘Message in a bottle’ miracle,” he wrote alongside a photo of himself on the phone, tearing up in disbelief.
The actor — who recently picked up supporting actor nominations at the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for his performance as Jack Hock in Can You Ever Forgive Me? — joins a number of stars in Hollywood who have been starstruck by interacting with their favorite celebs, including Sarah Paulson, Anthony Anderson, and Kelly Clarkson.
But last month, Grant was on the other side of things when fellow supporting actor nominee Timothée Chalamet had a fanboy moment of his own and jokingly begged Grant to spend the holidays with him.
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Chalamet, 23, responded to a video from Grant, in which he celebrated his SAG award nomination in front of a decked out Christmas tree.
“Richaaaard I have just seen CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME and forgive me for being late to the party but man you’re a genius !!!” he wrote on Twitter. “And this video makes me wanna spend Christmas with yoooou !! Can I ?”
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