Cate Blanchett tipped to star in Barbra Streisand's first film as director in 16 years Skinny And Cat with Colin Firth

Returning to movies as a director ... Singer and actress Barbra Streisand, now 70. Picture: AFP/Robyn Beck Source: AFP

The Daily Telegraph reports

Cate Blanchett is tipped to play the female lead in a movie to be directed by Barbra Streisand.

Streisand, 70, who hasn't directed a film since the romantic comedy The Mirror Has Two Faces 16 years ago, is in the process of raising funds for the film Skinny And Cat.

Colin Firth has been linked to the other lead role in the movie about author Erskine Caldwell and his late photographer wife Margaret Bourke-White. Despite a relatively short marriage, they collaborated on a number of books.

Streisand is reportedly yet to raise the $US20 million needed before the film can get underway.