Robert Redford Wore 2 Pairs of Underwear During Sex Scene To “Protect Himself” From “Infatuated” Barbra Streisand in ‘The Way We Were’

As the 50th anniversary of Oscar-winning romance movie The Way We Were approaches, we are learning new details about what went into the making of the classic film — including what Robert Redford reportedly wore during his sex scene with co-star Barbra Streisand.

According to Robert Hofler’s book The Way They Were: How Epic Battles and Bruised Egos Brought a Classic Hollywood Love Story to the Screen, which chronicles the filming of the 1973 movie, Redford wore two pairs of underwear to “protect himself” from the singer.

“To protect himself in more ways than one, [Redford] wore two athletic supporters for his love scene with Streisand, who chose to don a bikini,” an excerpt from the book reads, per The Daily Mail.

Redford also wouldn’t say the line, “It will be better this time,” during one of their sex scenes, as he didn’t want people to think he was bad in the bedroom in real life, according to the book.

Aside from that revelation, the book also alleges that Redford, now 86 years old, was not necessarily on board with Streisand acting as his leading lady in the beginning. The book claims that he didn’t believe she was a “serious actress” because she had “never been tested.”

“Her reputation is as a very controlling person,” he reportedly said, according to Hofler’s book. “She will direct herself. It’ll never work.”

However, when the two finally did meet up, the Star Is Born actress, now 80, was reportedly “infatuated” with Redford and “had a crush on him even before” they started filming.

Streisand, who allegedly liked “strong men,” became more attracted to the actor when he told her, “If we’re going to be able to work together you have to keep in mind that anything I tell you about myself will be volunteered because I want you to know it,” per Hofler’s work. “Not because you think you have some kind of right to know it.”

Despite the seemingly tumultuous working conditions, The Way We Were went on to earn six Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Streisand, disproving Redford. The movie ended up winning for Best Original Song, which Streisand sang, and Best Original Dramatic Score.