Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver
Name	Minnie Driver
Caption	Driver in 2014
Birth name	Amelia Fiona J. Driver
Birth date	31 January 1970
Birth place	Marylebone, London, England
Occupation	Actress, singer, songwriter
Years active	1990–present
Spouse	Addison O'Dea, 2019

Minnie Driver. Amelia Fiona J. Driver, known professionally as Minnie Driver, is an English actress and singer-songwriter. She gained international recognition for her role in the 1995 film Circle of Friends and later earned an Academy Award nomination for her supporting performance in Good Will Hunting. Her career spans acclaimed work in independent cinema, major studio productions, and television, alongside the release of several music albums.

Early life and education

She was born in Marylebone, London, to fashion designer and style writer Gaynor Churchward and financier Ronald Driver. She spent parts of her childhood in Barbados and the Isle of Man before attending Bedales School, a progressive independent school in Hampshire. Driver initially pursued a passion for music, studying voice and piano at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her early professional work included singing in a acid jazz band and performing in various theatrical productions in the United Kingdom.

Career

Her breakthrough came with the 1995 adaptation of Maeve Binchy's novel Circle of Friends, where her portrayal of a university student earned widespread praise. This led to roles in Sleepers opposite Brad Pitt and Robert De Niro, and the title role in the television film The Portrait of a Lady. Her performance as Skylar in Good Will Hunting brought her nominations for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Subsequent film work includes The Governess, An Ideal Husband, Tarzan (providing the singing voice for Jane), Return to Me, and The Phantom of the Opera. On television, she starred in the FX series The Riches alongside Eddie Izzard, earning a Golden Globe Award nomination, and later had a recurring role on the NBC comedy About a Boy. She has also appeared in series such as Speechless and Modern Love.

Personal life

She has been married to filmmaker Addison O'Dea since 2019, and they have a son together. She previously had a highly publicized relationship with actor Matt Damon following their work on Good Will Hunting. An avid environmentalist, Driver has been a longtime supporter of organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Oceana. She holds dual citizenship in the United Kingdom and the United States, residing primarily in Los Angeles. In addition to her activism, she is a published author, having written for publications such as The Guardian and The New York Times.

Filmography

A selection of her notable film roles includes *Circle of Friends* (1995), *Big Night* (1996), *Sleepers* (1996), *Grosse Pointe Blank* (1997), *Good Will Hunting* (1997), *The Governess* (1998), *Hard Rain* (1998), *An Ideal Husband* (1999), *Tarzan* (1999, voice), *Return to Me* (2000), *High Heels and Low Lifes* (2001), *The Phantom of the Opera* (2004), *Take* (2007), *Conviction* (2010), and *Chevalier* (2022). Her television work features series regular roles in *The Riches* (2007–2008) and *Speechless* (2016–2019).

Discography

Her music career includes the studio albums *Everything I've Got in My Pocket* (2004), *Seastories* (2007), and *Ask Me to Dance* (2014). These albums, released on Zoë Records and Rounder Records, feature her original songwriting and blend folk, pop, and rock influences. She has performed at notable venues like the Hollywood Bowl and contributed songs to soundtracks for films such as The Governess and Take.

Awards and nominations

Her accolades include an Academy Award nomination for *Good Will Hunting*, a Golden Globe Award nomination for *The Riches*, and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for *Good Will Hunting*. She has also received recognition from the Chicago Film Critics Association, the London Film Critics' Circle, and the Satellite Awards. For her music, she was nominated for a Georgia Music Hall of Fame award.

Category:English film actresses Category:English television actresses Category:English singer-songwriters Category:1970 births Category:Living people