The sweet note came to the star's attention after Grant shared it on Twitter

Richard E Grant was “overcome with emotion” after Barbra Streisand responded to a fan letter he wrote her when he was 14 years old.

The actor, who has been nominated for an Oscar for his most recent performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, shared the letter on his Twitter page yesterday (January 29). He posted it with a photo of himself outside Streisand’s California home.

“As a lifelong fan of someone you’ll understand what it meant for me to take this snap outside the home of @barbraStreisand,” he wrote. “Asked Security for permission & he replied ‘It’s a public road, but thanks for asking’ Wrote her this letter when I was 14. My wife is very understanding!”

The letter saw Grant offer the singer and actor a “two-week holiday, or longer” at his family’s house in Swaziland. He explained to her that he and his family had been big fans since seeing Streisand in Funny Girl and had all of her records. “I read in the paper that you were feeling very tired and pressurized by your fame and failed romance with Mr Ryan O’Neal,” he wrote.

“Here you can rest. No one will trouble you and I assure you you will not be mobbed in the street as your films only show in our one cinema for three day, so not that many people will know who you are, so no chance of being mobbed.”

Streisand did not reply at the time the letter was written but did send Grant a tweet about the note yesterday. “Dear Richard What a wonderful letter you wrote me when u were 14 !” she wrote. “And look at u now! You’re terrific in your latest movie with Melissa congratulations and love Barbra.”

Hours later, Grant returned to Twitter to share his reaction to the star’s reply, posting a screenshot of her tweet alongside a photo of himself on the phone with one hand on his head and tears in his eyes. “My pal Nicole Wilcox took this photo as my daughter read me @barbraStreisand’s tweet/response to a letter I sent her 47 yrs ago,” he captioned it. “Am completely crinkle faced & overcome with emotion. My ‘Message in a bottle’ miracle.”

Grant is up for Best Supporting Actor at the 2019 Oscars for playing Jack Hock in Can You Ever Forgive Me? The role has also earned him nominations at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Meanwhile, Streisand became one of the latest stars to take part in Carpool Karaoke last year. During her appearance she sang along to John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, praised Cardi B, and criticised Donald Trump and the current US administration.