Barbra Streisand was told to become secretary

Barbra Streisand’s mother wanted her to become a secretary.

The award-winning singer-and-actress is glad she followed her childhood dreams of stardom by pursuing a musical career, despite her family advising her to follow a more sensible route.

She told the December issue of Glamour magazine: ”My mother told me I should be a secretary, but I wanted to be an actress from when I was very young. Looking back I think it was maybe an escape.

”I just had a belief in myself. As a young woman I wanted nothing more than to see my name in lights.”

Barbra also shared a her top five tips for achieving your goals with the publication, revealing she would never have made it had she not taken risks or stayed true to herself.

The 71-year-old star listed: ”Find your passion. Trust your instincts. Stay true to yourself – people respond to authenticity, and they can smell a phony.

”Don’t fear your self-doubt … Confidence and doubt are at two ends of the scale, and you need both. Take risks. Get involved. It’s your life. It’s your country. It’s your world.”

Barbra famously become a nightclub singer in her teens in order to cut her teeth in the industry before making a name for herself on Broadway.

The star went on to have a successful movie career, winning an Oscar for ‘Funny Girl’, and most recently appearing in comedy films like ‘Meet the Fockers’.