Richard E Grant in 'absolute astonishment' as he finally meets Barbra Streisand for an Oscars selfie

The actor wrote to his idol 47 years ago
Biggest fan: Richard E Grant with Barbra Streisand
@RichardEGrant
Emma Powell25 February 2019
The Weekender

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Richard E Grant may have missed out on an Oscar – but he met his childhood idol Barbra Streisand for the first time.

The British star finally introduced himself to the US singer, 47 years after he wrote to her as a teenager offering her his holiday home if she ever wanted some “respite” from the limelight.

Grant grabbed Streisand for a selfie as they celebrated into the early hours at an Oscars after party, hailing the moment “40 karat gold”.

“Being Oscar nominated was pretty amazing, but meeting with @barbrastreisand and having a proper conversation was an absolute astonishment,” he tweeted. “40 karat Gold (sic).”

Alongside the selfie he wrote: “Suitably blurry-eyed selfie with @BarbraStreisand who was EVERYTHING I’d hoped, expected & dreamt she’d be. QUEEN BEE.”

The post came hours after Grant looked close to tears as Streisand took to the stage to introduce Best Picture nominee BlacKkKlansman.

Grant clutched his chest and shouted, “wow,” as he applauded the singer who received a standing ovation.

Grant opened up about his love for Streisand last month when he posted a picture of himself outside her Malibu home after politely asking security for “permission”.

Academy Awards 2019: Oscars Show Moments - In pictures

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He also shared the letter he had written to Streisand as a teenager, in which he invited her to take a holiday at his family home in Swaziland, south-east Africa.

Streisand left Grant “overcome with emotion” after responding to his “wonderful letter” in which she congratulated him on his Best Supporting Actor nodan honour he missed out on to Green Book’s Mahershala Ali.

He replied: “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!!”

Grant spent his time at the 91st Academy Awards taking selfies with stars including Nicholas Hoult, Samuel L Jackson and Emilia Clarke.

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