Laraine Newman shares the story of how Barbra Streisand tried to confront her over an SNL impression, but Newman chose to walk away.

Laraine Newman, the legendary Saturday Night Live (SNL) alum, has revealed an unexpected encounter with none other than Barbra Streisand, who, it turns out, wasn’t thrilled about the comedian’s impersonation of her on the iconic late-night show.

During a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Newman opened up about the time she crossed paths with the Funny Girl actress at a bar mitzvah, years after her famous impression of Streisand aired on SNL.

Newman, who was part of the SNL cast from 1975 to 1980, became known for her spot-on impersonation of Streisand, often highlighting the singer and actress’s notorious ego and exaggerated public persona.

In one memorable sketch, written by SNL’s Marilyn Miller, Newman performed a satirical song titled “Me,” poking fun at Streisand’s larger-than-life image.

The lyrics of the song humorously portrayed Streisand as someone whose movies made millions, even if the films were considered flops.

It wasn’t long before Streisand, apparently aware of Newman’s impression, decided to approach her in person. However, this confrontation didn’t go as Streisand might have anticipated.

Newman was at her friend’s son’s bar mitzvah when she found out that Streisand, who was performing at the event, wanted to speak to her. “She says, ‘I wanna talk to you,’” Newman recalled during the show.

But in an unexpected turn of events, Newman decided to walk away rather than engage in a conversation. “I left,” she confessed. “I didn’t wanna talk to her.”

Despite the confrontation being left unresolved, Newman’s recollection of the moment highlighted a curious reaction to the incident. While she may not have wanted to face the diva in that particular moment, it did reveal the strong emotions stirred up by the impression.

While many SNL impersonations were lighthearted, this one, in particular, seemed to touch a nerve with Streisand, even though she never had the chance to deliver her thoughts directly to Newman.

Other SNL veterans shared similar anecdotes of celebrities responding to their portrayals. For instance, Cheri Oteri, who famously impersonated Judge Judy, revealed that the real-life judge wasn’t exactly thrilled with her performance.

Oteri recounted that Judge Judy even contacted her manager, saying, “Tell Cheri, your client, she’s almost got me.” Similarly, Cecily Strong spoke about how Judge Jeanine Pirro wanted to meet her for lunch after her portrayal, although Strong was too busy to accept.

Ana Gasteyer, who played a variety of celebrities during her time on SNL, shared stories of appreciation from her impersonation targets.

Both Martha Stewart and Celine Dion expressed gratitude for Gasteyer’s depictions, and Gasteyer fondly remembered receiving a voicemail from actress Jo Anne Worley, praising her performance.

Rachel Dratch, another former cast member, recalled an amusing moment when she impersonated actress Calista Flockhart. Dratch had the chance to meet Flockhart when she later hosted SNL, which allowed the two to do side-by-side sketches together.

Newman’s recollections didn’t stop with just celebrity encounters. She also gave her thoughts on the recent SNL biopic titled Saturday Night, which aired to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary.

While Newman emphasized that the film was a fictionalized account, she expressed how much she enjoyed watching it. “I thought it was really entertaining, and I loved it, and I cried at the end,” she shared.

The SNL alum also reflected on her strong bond with late cast member Gilda Radner, whom she described as the closest friend from the original SNL cast.

Radner’s untimely passing left a void, especially when Newman thought about the 50th anniversary celebrations. “I just wish she could be here for all of this, really. It would just make it a whole different experience,” Newman remarked.

Beyond her reflections on SNL, Newman also spoke fondly of the ongoing camaraderie she shares with the current and past cast members.

“I just totally feel inspired,” she said, admiring the talent and creativity of the generations of comedians who followed in the footsteps of the original cast.

She expressed how meaningful it was to collaborate and interact with cast members from different eras, adding, “I love the camaraderie of the cast all through the years.”

Despite the dramatic story about Barbra Streisand, Laraine Newman’s legacy remains as one of the most influential figures in Saturday Night Live history, having made a lasting impact with her sketches, impressions, and her pivotal role in shaping the show during its formative years.