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Minnie Driver Profile |
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Birth Date: January 31, 1970
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Birth Place: London, England, UK
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Birth Name: Amelia Fiona J. Driver
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Height: 5'10"
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Biography |
Even though the majority of Minnie Driver's roles have been
as the girlfriend of leading men such as Matt Damon and Brad
Pitt, her roles are by no means second tier. The stunning
British actress has proven time and time again that she not
only lights up a screen with her smile, but is also an
A-list actress.
Amelia Driver was born on January 31, 1970, to parents
Ronnie, a financier, and Gaynor, an interior designer and
former model -- which explains the beauty that Minnie and
her older sister Kate (also a model) possess.
Born in London, England and raised in Barbados, Amelia (who
acquired the name Minnie because her sister could not
pronounce her name), can probably attribute her ability to
speak in many different accents (perfectly, we might add) to
her diverse geographic upbringing.
She attended finishing schools in Paris and Grenoble, and
graduated from Bedales School in Petersfield, England. She
went on to study drama at the Webber Douglas Academy of
Dramatic Art in London.
It didn't take long for the actress and musician (Minnie is
also a jazz singer and guitar player) to find work on
British television after graduating in 1991. In addition to
roles on TV's The House of Eliott and Casualty, Minnie
appeared onstage and worked at London clubs singing jazz and
playing guitar in order to further supplement her income.
Minnie even starred in a British series called My Good
Friend, in 1995. She finally made it to the big screen in
1995 after having fought for -- and won -- the lead female
role of Benny in the film adaptation of the novel, Circle of
Friends.
Co-starring American heartthrob Chris O'Donnell, this
sleeper hit not only won her critical acclaim, but also
shocked audiences. The first shock was that Minnie is
actually not Irish, despite her flawless Irish accent; the
second was that she is actually more statuesque and slim
than her character (she had to gain 20 pounds for the role).
That same year, audiences witnessed a more slender figured
Minnie in the James Bond film GoldenEye, starring Pierce
Brosnan and Famke Janssen. As a Russian lounge singer,
Minnie had audiences fooled once again, this time with her
perfect Russian accent.
In 1996, Minnie appeared in the drama Sleepers (this time
with a New York accent), co-starring Robert De Niro and Brad
Pitt, and Stanley Tucci in Campbell Scott's film Big Night
(as a New Jersey girl). Her role in 1997's dark comedy
Grosse Pointe Blank resulted in a short-lived real-life
fling with John Cusack, not to mention critical praise.
No amount of praise could have matched Minnie's next film
role, as med school student Skylar in Good Will Hunting. She
received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for
her role and, of course, cuddled up to her co-star Matt
Damon both on and off screen. Unfortunately, their romance
ended on a bitter note when Minnie found out Matt was ending
it when he announced it on Oprah.
After having received awards such as the London Critics
Circle Film Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year
and the ShoWest Award for Female Star of Tomorrow, Minnie
co-starred with Christian Slater in the disappointing action
film Hard Rain.
After Good Will Hunting, Minnie's roles could not have been
any more diverse. She starred as a gentile in the 1998 film
The Governess, provided the voice of Jane in Disney's
animated version of the classic Tarzan (1999), and
co-starred with Rupert Everett as a British aristocrat in an
adaptation of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband (1999).
In 2000, Minnie came full circle with her role as David
Duchovny's girlfriend in the romantic film, Return to Me.
Following the beauty pageant movie Beautiful (2000)
alongside Joey Lauren Adams and Bridgette Wilson, she was in
High Heels and Low Lifes (2001).
Also in 2001, Minnie got engaged to her actor-boyfriend Josh
Brolin, but she apparently broke it off later that year due
to conflicts with Brolin's stepmother, Barbra Streisand. In
the meantime, Minnie and her sister Kate founded the
production company Two Drivers, responsible for the film
Slow Burn, which starred Josh Brolin.
After a short break, she returned to the big screen in Hope
Springs and as an unappealing bank clerk in the compulsive
gambling drama Owning Mahowny, both 2003 releases. Her next
films were the 2004 features Ella Enchanted, starring Anne
Hathaway, and the film version of The Phantom of the Opera,
starring Emmy Rossum.
She also kept busy in 2003 and 2004 with several appearances
on NBC's Will & Grace, as Karen's ex-husband's gold-digging
girlfriend.
In October 2004, Minnie released her debut album, Everything
I've Got In My Pocket. The multi-talented beauty will surely
be driving more hearts off screen, and driving more
audiences to theaters in the years to come, starting with
2005's The Virgin of Juarez. |
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Other
Information |
Dated Josh Brolin. [Oct. 1999 - Oct. 2001]
Dated Matt Damon. [1997]
Dated Taylor Hawkins.
She was raised in Barbados.
Attended finishing schools in Paris and Grenoble.
Her sister, Kate Driver, is a model.
Has a tattoo of a rose on her right hip.
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]
Appeared in a Halifax Building Society advert as a mum at
school gates.
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" |
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