Richard E Grant expresses joy over meeting idol Barbra Streisand at British Summer Time festival

Actor says he has 'avidly and devotedly followed' the singer for the past 50 years

Richard E Grant says meeting Barbra Streisand was 'utterly surreal' (Getty)

Richard E Grant has expressed his joy at meeting his idol Barbra Streisand backstage during her British Summer Time show in London's Hyde Park.

On 6 July, the British actor, who previously revealed he is a huge fan of the singer, tweeted that he was “counting down the hours” until the annual music festival, where Streisand performed Sunday.

“For the past 50 years I have avidly and devotedly followed the uniquely talented human being called Barbra Streisand and am counting down the hours till I see her tomorrow evening in Hyde Park,” the 62-year-old wrote.

The actor then followed up with another tweet, where he revealed that he had been invited backstage to meet his idol, a moment he called “utterly surreal”.

“Utterly surreal to have been sent tickets to sit in the Streisand suite last night and then be invited to meet backstage,” Grant wrote, alongside a photo of Streisand, Dame Helen Mirren and her husband Taylor Hackford.

“Waiting with Dame Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford, whilst Barbra Streisand chatted with Antonio Banderas.

Earlier this year, the British actor shared his emotional reaction to receiving a response from Streisand to a letter he’d sent her more than 40 years ago.

According to Grant, he’d written to the singer when he was 14 and asked if she would like to holiday at his family home in Swaziland.

Streisand responded to the letter 47 years later, tweeting: “Dear Richard, what a wonderful letter you wrote me when u were 14! And look at u now!

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“You’re terrific in your latest movie with Melissa. Congratulations and love Barbra.”

The pair met for the first time at this year’s Oscars, where they captured a selfie together.

During the British Summer Time show, Streisand performed duets with Kris Kristofferson and Lionel Richie.

Following the show, Richie expressed his own happiness over being given the opportunity to perform with the singer, writing on Instagram: “Performing with Barbra Streisand has been on my bucket list for years… ‘The Way We Were’ was magical…

“Barbra, what an honour to share the stage with you tonight…”