Barbra Streisand Fights Back! Claims She 'Tried Very Hard' to Get The Normal Heart Made

While we prep our DVRs for the May 25 premiere of Ryan Murphy's HBO adaptation of Larry Kramer’s Tony-winning drama The Normal Heart, there’s one stage and screen icon that has something to say, first. Barbra Streisand released a statement to the Hollywood Reporter in response to a 2012 email from Kramer to Streisand that went public, which accused her of not having “quite the same burning passion to make it as you always claim.”

Streisand was the first filmmaker to discuss a screen adaptation with Kramer, having held an option on the project for ten years following the play’s 1985 premiere and championing it even when she no longer held the rights. “I tried very hard to get it made,” said Streisand. “In the press, Larry kept speaking out against me. But I think it's unfair to keep blaming me for the movie not getting made. I worked on it for 25 years, without pay.” Despite all that’s occurred, the Oscar winner reveals: “I'm glad it's finally here.”

The Normal Heart takes a look at the challenges in trying to raise awareness during the early days of the AIDS crisis in New York City. The made-for-TV movie features stars including Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Joe Mantello, Denis O’Hare and Jonathan Groff.