Minnie Driver facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minnie Driver
Driver in 2010
Born	Amelia Fiona Driver (1970-01-31) 31 January 1970 (age 55) London, England
Citizenship	United Kingdom United States (from 2017)
Alma mater	Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1991–present
Partner(s)	Addison O'Dea (2019–present; engaged)
Children	1

Amelia Fiona "Minnie" Driver (born on January 31, 1970) is a talented British and American actress and singer. She became well-known after her big role in the 1995 movie Circle of Friends. Minnie Driver has starred in many different films. These include the popular movie Grosse Pointe Blank and Good Will Hunting. For Good Will Hunting, she was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in the musical film The Phantom of the Opera. She lent her voice to characters like Lady Eboshi in Princess Mononoke.

On television, Minnie Driver starred with Eddie Izzard in The Riches. This role earned her nominations for an Emmy and a Golden Globe. She also played lead roles in the TV shows Speechless and About a Boy. You might also remember her from her recurring role in Will & Grace. She has also been in several British TV dramas, such as The Deep.

Before becoming a famous actress, Minnie Driver was a singer. She has released three solo albums during her career. She has also voiced characters in many animated shows and movies. These include SuperMansion and Disney's Tarzan. She also voiced characters in video games like Jurassic Park: Trespasser.

Minnie Driver's Early Life and Education

Amelia Fiona Jessica Driver was born in London, England. She spent her early childhood, until she was six, living in Barbados. Her older sister, Kate, gave her the nickname "Minnie" when she was a child.

Minnie's mother, Gaynor Churchward, was a fabric designer and a former model. Her father, Charles Ronald Driver, was from Swansea, Wales. He was a brave pilot who received a special medal for his role in a battle. He was also a director of a company called London United Investments.

Minnie's parents ended their relationship when she was six years old. Soon after, she went to Bedales School in Hampshire as a boarder. Later, she studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. She also attended Collingham College in London. Minnie's older sister, Kate, works as a film producer and manager. Minnie also has other half-siblings from her parents' other relationships.

Minnie Driver's Acting Career

Minnie Driver's first appearance on television was in a 1991 advertisement for deodorant. In the same year, she also started acting on stage. To earn extra money, she performed as a jazz singer and guitarist. In 1993, she appeared in an episode of Maigret. She also acted alongside Jonathan Pryce in the mini-series Mr Wroe's Virgins. She had small roles in other British TV shows like Casualty and Lovejoy.

Becoming a Star in Movies

Minnie Driver became widely known when she played the main character in Circle of Friends in 1995. In this movie, she starred opposite Chris O'Donnell. After that, she had a small role in the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995). She then had a supporting role in Sleepers (1996). She also took on a leading role in Big Night (1996). In 1997, she co-starred with John Cusack in Grosse Pointe Blank.

One of her most famous roles was as Skylar in the drama Good Will Hunting (1997). She acted opposite Matt Damon in this film. For her performance, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.

In 1998, Minnie Driver starred in The Governess. That same year, she co-starred with Christian Slater and Morgan Freeman in the action movie Hard Rain. Minnie Driver has also done voice work for animated films. She was the voice of Jane in Disney's 1999 movie Tarzan. She also voiced Lady Eboshi in the English version of the Japanese film Princess Mononoke. From 2003 to 2004, she had a recurring role in Will & Grace. She played Lorraine Finster, who was the rival of Karen Walker.

Television Success and Awards

In March 2007, Minnie Driver returned to television in the show The Riches. She was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her role. She was supposed to appear in The Simpsons Movie, but her scene was cut. In 2010, she appeared in an episode of Modern Family called "Moon Landing". She also starred in the TV series The Deep. She appeared in the film Conviction and the comedy-drama Barney's Version. For Barney's Version, she won a Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress.

In October 2013, Driver began filming The Crash, which was released in 2017.

Minnie Driver got the main role in the ABC sitcom Speechless. She played the mother of three children, one of whom uses a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy. The show started in 2016 and ran for three seasons. It was canceled in May 2019.

Minnie Driver's Music Career

Driver performing in 2004

Minnie Driver started making music when she was at boarding school. In 1994, she worked with the group Bomb the Bass on their album Clear. She was also part of the Milo Roth Band, which got a recording contract when she was 19. In 2001, she signed with EMI and Rounder Records. She also performed at the SXSW music festival.

The title song of her first album, Everything I've Got in My Pocket, reached number 34 in the U.K. Another song, "Invisible Girl," reached number 68. Minnie Driver wrote 10 out of the 11 songs on this album. In 2004, she opened for the Finn Brothers during their U.K. tour.

In 2004, Driver played Carlotta Giudicelli in the film The Phantom of the Opera. This movie was based on the famous musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Driver sang "Learn to be Lonely," a new song written for the film. However, because she didn't have opera training, another singer, Margaret Preece, sang Carlotta's opera parts for her.

Minnie Driver released her second album, Seastories, in July 2007. This album featured guest artists like Ryan Adams and Liz Phair. In October 2014, Driver released her third album, Ask Me to Dance. This album included songs by artists like Elliott Smith and Neil Young.

Minnie Driver's Podcast

In 2021, Minnie Driver started her own podcast called Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver. In each episode, she asks her guests a series of seven questions. These questions are inspired by a famous interview style called the Proust Questionnaire. Some of her guests have included Chelsea Clinton, Nick Jonas, and Cindy Crawford.

Minnie Driver's Personal Life

Minnie Driver has been in a relationship with Addison O'Dea since 2019. They are now engaged. She was briefly engaged to Josh Brolin in 2001. She has a son named Henry, who was born in 2008. Henry's father is television writer and producer Timothy J. Lea. In 1997, she dated Matt Damon while they were filming Good Will Hunting. They broke up in early 1998.

On December 21, 2017, Minnie Driver became a citizen of the United States. After living in California for many years, she moved back to London.

Minnie Driver's Filmography

Film Roles

Driver at the red carpet premiere of Barney's Version in January 2011

Driver at the premiere of Chevalier in September 2022

Television Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Minnie Driver has won several awards and received many nominations for her acting and singing.

Other Media Roles

Web Series

Video Game Voice Roles

Minnie Driver's Music Albums

Albums Released

Singles Released

See also

In Spanish: Minnie Driver para niños