Biography for
Minnie Driver More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

31 January 1970, London, England, UK

Birth Name

Amelia Fiona J. Driver

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Amelia Fiona J. Driver was born January 31, 1970 in Finsbury Park, London. Her mother, Gaynor Churchyard, was a designer and former couture model and her father, Ronnie Driver, was a businessman. She has a sister, Kate Driver, who's a model and a producer. Minnie's mother was her father's mistress. Her father's wife did not know about his second family. She has Irish, Scottish, Italian and French ancestry. She was raised in Barbados.

Her first major role was in the film Circle of Friends (1995)opposite Chris O'Donnell and Colin Firth. In the next few years she had roles in films such has GoldenEye (1995), Sleepers (1996) and Grosse Pointe Blank (1997). In 1997 she starred in the popular and financially successful film Good Will Hunting (1997) opposite Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who also wrote the screenplay for the film and received Oscars for their achievement. The film also earned Minnie an Oscar nomination for best actress in a supporting role.

She had a noted recurring role on "Will & Grace" (1998) in 2003-2004 and also appeared in films such as An Ideal Husband (1999), Return to Me (2000), Owning Mahowny (2003), Ella Enchanted (2004), The Phantom of the Opera (2004), Delirious (2006) and Take (2007). She now stars in the popular Tv-series "The Riches" (2007) opposite Eddie Izzard.

Minnie has been romantically linked with several of her co-stars, including Matt Damon and John Cusack. She was engaged to marry Josh Brolin before they broke up suddenly in 2001. In the last few years she has kept her private life, private. On March 13, 2008, during an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992), she announced that she was expecting her first child. On September 5, 2008, she gave birth to a boy named Henry Story Driver. The name of the baby's father has not been revealed.

IMDb Mini Biography By: A.G.

Trivia

She was raised in Barbados.

Attended finishing schools in Paris and Grenoble.

Her sister, Kate Driver, is a model.

Worked as a jazz singer and guitarist in London.

Had her appendix removed. [August 2000]

Officially announced her engagement to boyfriend, actor Josh Brolin. [April 2001]

Announced she and Josh Brolin had broken up. [October 2001]

Claims that one of the reasons why she and ex-fiance Josh Brolin broke-up is due to Brolin's step-mother, Barbra Streisand, constantly trying to take charge of her wedding.

Completed her debut album, 'Everything I've Got In My Pocket' (2004)

Trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, whose alumni include Terence Stamp, Julia Ormond, Rupert Friend, Angela Lansbury, Matthew Goode, Sue Johnston, Hugh Bonneville and Julian Fellowes.

The name Minnie was a childhood nickname.

She was inspired to act after being bowled over by Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice (1982).

During her appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992), she described her place of dwelling as a "modular" home by the beach in Los Angeles, CA. She used the word "modular" despite Jay Leno's attempts at correcting her to say "trailer".

She is an avid surfer (hence living by the beach) as revealed on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992).

Recorded dialogue for a scene in The Simpsons Movie (2007). Her scene was ultimately cut from the film.

Announced on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992) on March 13, 2008 that she is pregnant with her first child.

Gave birth to first child, a boy named Henry Story Driver, on September 5, 2008. He weighed 9 lbs. 12 oz.

Did not return to work until five months after giving birth to her son Henry in order to begin filming Betty Anne Waters (2009).

Personal Quotes

"People go 'You look a lot like Minnie Driver.' Once I said, 'Thanks, Minnie is a great actress.' But, it blew up in my face. This person said, 'Nah, didn't like the last movie she did.'"

Visiting factories in Cambodia: "Every time companies squeeze to get lower production costs, faster production, it's nobody but the working women who suffer and their families back at home."

"I box as a sport, but I'd never box with a man. I'm not afraid of getting hurt. Quite the opposite: I'm afraid I'd get carried away and hurt the guy."

Where Are They Now

(July 2003) Performing "Sexual Perversity In Chicago" alongside Matthew Perry, Hank Azaria and Kelly Reilly in London's Comedy Theatre.

(2006) Appeared in an infomercial, hosted by Daisy Fuentes and Mari Winsor, for Mari's "Winsor Pilates" fitness system.

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