The bizarre, extremely specific contract demands of the biggest divas in '90s Hollywood


Join HELLO! as we take a look at the strangest contract demands and on-set requests from some of our favourite '90s divas


Barbra Streisand poses backstage at the 85th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. The Donna Karan New York gown worn by Barbra Streisand in her performance at the 85th Annual Academy awards was designed by Ms. Karan, specifically for the artist. Entitled 'City Lights' the black asymmetrical, bias-cut dress is a waterfall of chiffon layers encrusted with matte gold sequins
and beads. A long-sleeve capelet adds the final layer of chiffon, its back dramatically falling to the floor.© Getty Images
Katie Fitzpatrick
Katie FitzpatrickFeatures Writer
1 hour ago

Hollywood stars are no strangers to a contract perk or two. Still, some celebrity demands have been incredibly specific – like Bea Arthur's insistence on going barefoot on set, or Barbra Streisand's bathroom decorations. 

While some of these stories have been disputed, these bizarre demands have become part of Hollywood lore. 

Join HELLO! as we take a look at the strangest contract demands and on-set requests from some of our favourite '90s divas.

Queen Latifah attends the 18th Annual ADCOLOR Awards at JW Marriott LA Live on November 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)© Getty Images

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah had grown tired of dying in her films – like in Set It Off, Sphere and The Bone Collector – so much so that she had a "no-death clause" written into her contracts going forward.  

"I noticed I was too good at it, so it's kind of a running joke," she told Entertainment Tonight. "I was like, 'I don't get to do any sequels if I keep being this good at [dying].' So I said, 'Look, you gotta put a no-death clause in these contracts so they can't just kill me off like this. I'm never gonna get a sequel in!"

The rapper added: "But, I mean, of course, for the right price, you know!"

Bea Arthur© Disney General Entertainment Con

Bea Arthur

The Golden Girls' Bea Arthur wasn't a big fan of wearing shoes, as Jim Colucci, the author of Golden Girls Forever, told Fox News.

"She also never wanted to wear shoes. She had it written into her contract that she was allowed not to wear shoes as long as she agreed not to sue the producers if she hurt herself," he explained. 

The actress also hated chewing gum so much that she would have people fired if they were caught with it on set.

Barbra Streisand© FilmMagic

Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand, one of the biggest divas of the '90s, reportedly insisted on some very strange things in her dressing room. She was said to have asked for skin-coloured toilet paper in the bathroom, and rose petals in the toilet bowl. 

It was also rumoured that Barbra wanted designer lamps and towels in her dressing room, but she later dismissed the stories as fiction during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. 

​"The guy who came in to clean up probably put petals on the toilet. The guy did, folks. Not me," she insisted.

Uma Thurman© Factstory for the Red Sea Intern

Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman reportedly wanted everything from more "favourable dressing facilities" to a three-bedroom hotel suite for the film Eloise in Paris, which was never made due to financial issues. 

She also asked in her contract for three mobile phones, first-class air travel to all filming locations, and the ability to purchase her costumes or wigs for half the price.

L'actrice américaine Kim Basinger au 15eme Festival du film américain de Deauville.© Getty Images

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger's diva behaviour on the set of The Marrying Man reportedly included everything from requesting Evian water to wash her hair, to asking to pause production so she could visit a psychic in Brazil.

The blonde beauty also reportedly wanted the director of photography fired because she didn't like the way he made her look onscreen, and was said to constantly keep production waiting for her arrival.

Eddie Murphy attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix's "Being Eddie" at TUDUM Theater on November 12, 2025 in Hollywood, California.© Getty Images

Eddie Murphy

The comedy legend reportedly asks for new underwear, socks and toiletries each day on set, complete with the tags still on, and uses everything once before throwing it away altogether.

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