Barbra Streisand Leaves Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone and More in Tears with SAG Life Achievement Award Speech

Barbra Streisand accepted the SAG Life Achievement Award with a speech that brought her fellow actors to tears.

At the 2024 SAG Awards on Saturday, Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper, the star of 2018's A Star Is Born (Streisand starred in the 1976 version), took the stage to introduce Streisand, 81, and give her flowers.

Following Aniston and Cooper's introductions, the Funny Girl star took the stage, and she was met with a standing ovation and emotional responses from several audience members, including Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone and later, Joey King, all of whom had teary eyes.

After joking this is the best award to get "because you know in advance you're going to get it," Streisand began, "Thank you SAG-AFTRA. I'm very proud to be a member for over 60 years. I can't quite believe it."

The icon went on to recall her love of films, specifically black-and-white foreign films, as a teenager in Brooklyn, as well as seeing "the most beautiful actor," Marlon Brando on the big screen for the first time.

"That make-believe world was much more pleasant than anything I was experiencing. I didn't like reality," Streisand said. "I wanted to be in the movies, even though I knew I didn't look like any of the other women on the screen. My mother said, 'You better learn to type,' but I didn't listen. And somehow, someway — thank you, God — it all came true."

Streisand also thanked Funny Girl director William Wyler and cinematographer Harry Stradling, noting that they were "extraordinary" and "had no problem with a young woman who had opinions."

She also noted that she "never went to college," and "always thought acting was my education."

"It's really a privilege to be part of this profession," she continued. "For a couple of hours, people consider the theater to escape their own troubles. What an idea! Moving pictures on a screen. And I can't help but think back to the people who built this industry. Ironically, they were also escaping their own troubles."

The star went on to name several Jewish pioneers in the film industry who changed their names to avoid discrimination, including Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer and the Warner Brothers.

"They were all fleeing the prejudice they faced in eastern Europe, simply because of their religion. And they were dreamers to like all of us here tonight. And now I dream of a world where such prejudice is a thing of the past," Streisand said.

Streisand went on to discuss a recent experience with a film that not only left her in tears but also showed her "how you can make a profound connection with someone simply by telling the truth."

"It reminded me all over again how much I love film, and why we all strive to make the best movies we can," she continued. "So many people who have done that are sitting right here tonight in this room. So once again, I would like to thank SAG-AFTRA for this fabulous honor, and to say to my fellow actors and directors, I've loved working with you, playing with you and inhabiting that magical world of the movies with you."

"And most of all, I want to thank you for giving me so much joy just watching all of you on the screen," she finished. "Thank you for that."

SAG-AFTRA announced Streisand was the 59th recipient of its Life Achievement Award in December, describing the EGOT honoree as "one of the greatest entertainers of all time.”

“Ever since I was a young girl sitting in the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, I dreamed of being one of those actresses I saw on the screen," Streisand said in a statement at the time. "The movies were a portal to a world I could only imagine. Even though I was an unlikely candidate, somehow my dream came true.”

“This award is especially meaningful to me because it comes from my fellow actors, whom I so admire,” she added.

Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA’s president, also released a statement, calling Streisand "an icon and unparalleled talent, a force of nature who has seamlessly woven her brilliance through the fabric of our industry.”

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"From her earliest days captivating audiences on Broadway to her unforgettable roles in cinematic classics like Funny Girl, The Way We Were and A Star Is Born, Barbra's ability to inhabit her characters with authenticity is nothing short of extraordinary," said Drescher.

“Her enduring career is a testament to her genuine performances, connecting with audiences on a profound level,” she added. “She is a colossal icon with a relentless work ethic, evolving with each stage of her remarkable journey. We celebrate Barbra Streisand not just for her achievements but for the enduring legacy she has carved.”

The honor, which is voted on by members of SAG-AFTRA's National Honors and Tributes Committee, went to Sally Field and Helen Mirren in 2023 and 2022.

See PEOPLE’s coverage of the 2024 SAG Awards as it airs live on Netflix from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in L.A.