When the 2026 Academy Awards honored the late Robert Redford, the spotlight fell on an unexpected figure: Barbra Streisand. The 84‑year‑old singer‑actress stepped onto the stage to deliver a heartfelt tribute, prompting a flurry of questions about why she was chosen over other close collaborators. Jane Fonda, who shared a long and fruitful partnership with Redford, took the opportunity at the TCM Classic Film Festival to clarify her earlier remarks and explain her own feelings toward the late legend.
Fonda’s Initial Comments and the Misunderstanding
During the Thursday event on April 30, Fonda quipped that she had worked with Redford on four films, while Streisand had only appeared in one. The comment was meant as a light‑hearted comparison, but it sparked confusion among fans who wondered why Streisand was the one to honor Redford at the Oscars.
Fonda later addressed the situation in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, saying, “I want to know how come Streisand was up there doing that for Redford. She only made one movie with him, I made four!” She added that her remarks were made in jest and that she had no intention of undermining Streisand’s tribute.
In the same interview, Fonda clarified that she was not invited to speak at the ceremony. “They didn’t ask me to do the Oscars,” she explained. “I loved him and I deeply respect him.” The actress emphasized that her comments were purely playful and not a critique of the Academy’s decision.
Redford’s Filmography with Fonda and Streisand
Robert Redford’s career spanned more than five decades, and he worked with a number of iconic actresses. Below is a concise list of the films in which Fonda and Streisand appeared alongside the legendary director‑actor.
- Jane Fonda: Tall Story (1970), The Chase (1972), Barefoot in the Park (1973), The Electric Horseman (1979), and Our Souls at Night (2017).
- Barbra Streisand: The Way We
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