Minnie Driver (born Amelia Driver on January 31, 1970) is an English actress and singer-songwriter, born in London. She first came to broad public attention when she played the lead role in Circle of Friends. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting.

In 2003 and 2004, she had a noted comic recurring role on Will & Grace as Lorraine Finster, Karen's (Megan Mullally) nemesis.

Music career

Driver was born to parents of English, Irish, Scottish, Italian and French descent. Prior to her success as an actress, Driver was a member of a band called "Puff, Rocks and Brown"; the band was signed to a development deal with Island Records, which ended without a release.

She began a low-profile return to music in 2000; in 2004 she signed recording contracts with EMI and Rounder Records and performed at SXSW. The contract led to the release of Everything I've Got in My Pocket, an album backed by a group that includes members of the Wallflowers and Pete Yorn's band. Driver wrote ten of the eleven songs on the album and also covered "Hungry Heart" from Bruce Springsteen's The River.

In 2004, Driver played Carlotta Giudicelli in Joel Schumacher's film of The Phantom of the Opera. Due to the vocal requirements of the role, Driver was the sole cast member to have her voice dubbed. However, she did lend her own voice to Learn to be Lonely, a song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber specifically for the film version of his musical (it plays over the closing credits of the movie).

Filmography

• The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
• Ella Enchanted (2004)
• Hope Springs (2003)
• Owning Mahowny (2003)
• D.C. Smalls (2001)
• High Heels and Low Lifes (2001)
• The Upgrade (2000)
• Slow Burn (2000)
• Beautiful (2000)
• Return to Me (2000)
• An Ideal Husband (1999)
• The Governess (1998)
• Hard Rain (1998)
• Baggage (1997)
• Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
• Sleepers (1996)
• Big Night (1996)
• GoldenEye (1995)
• Circle of Friends (1995)

Animated filmography

She had voice roles in three films released in 1999:

• Princess Mononoke (English language release)
• South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut
• Tarzan

Personal life

She has been linked romantically with several of her film's costars, including Matt Damon, John Cusack, and Josh Brolin. She was also linked to tennis player Robby Ginepri.