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Born in Marylebone, England, Minnie Driver studied in Barbados as a child before enrolling to study dramatic arts at college. After graduation, she quickly booked a role in stage production and bagged roles in BBC television shows that made her a famous face in Britain. Minnie later moved base to Hollywood, California, to cement her name as an A-list actress and mastered the American accent while auditioning for various roles. After doing a series of praised performances, she landed the role of a lifetime in Good Will Hunting in 1997, which earned award nominations and worldwide acclaim. Acting roles have become easier for the actress since then, as she has also returned to star in television shows while giving musical performances.
Minnie Driver began her career with commercials before landing minor roles in Britain and making it big in Hollywood. Throughout her career, the actress has appeared in multiple projects that have helped her amass a massive $14 million fortune. Let’s look at how Minnie Driver started and grew her net worth.
From Commercials To BBC
Hailing from England, Amelia Fiona J. Driver was given the nickname Minnie at a young age which later in life became her stage name in Hollywood. Minnie Driver was only six years old when her parents separated in Barbados, leading her to return to England with the family. According to Hello Magazine, she studied at a renowned boarding school Bedales where she practiced playing the guitar and jazz vocalization. The actress then became interested in theater and wanted to pursue it as a career. After school, she enrolled at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and Collingham College to continue her journey.
Minnie Driver received her first acting role two weeks after graduation in a deodorant commercial and later made appearances in stage productions. She performed as a guitarist and jazz vocalist, using her skills, and made minor appearances in BBC Productions. Some popular television shows include Casualty, Peak Practice, and The House Of Eliott, as noted by Celebrity Net Worth. Driver received her first lead role in 1995 with Circle Of Friends. The same year, she made a two-minute appearance in Pierce Brosnan, starring in the James Bond film Goldeneye.
A Movie That Changed Everything
Minnie Driver continued her work in Hollywood, appearing in films such as Big Night, Sleepers, and Grosse Pointe Blank, but the actress still needed to find her big break. After Matt Damon and Ben Affleck finished writing their debut screenplay for Good Will Hunting, their script was picked to be made into a theatrical movie with Robin Williams and Damon in starring roles. Driver auditioned for the female supporting character in the film Skylar. While the producer told her she wasn’t attractive enough for the character, the team fought hard to give her the role, as stated by the Hollywood Reporter. The film was made on a minor $10 million budget and grossed upwards of $225 million at the box office.
Good Will Hunting not only put Minnie Driver on Hollywood’s map but also earned her appraisal, with many critics singling out her stunning performance. Additionally, she received an Oscar and SAG nomination for her portrayal. The era of Driver starring as a lead actress has just begun as she worked with several notable actors on projects such as The Governess and Hard Rain alongside Morgan Freeman. The actress has also lent her voice to animated films in hit films such as Tarzan and Princess Mononoke.
Going Beyond Films and Television
While Minnie Driver hadn’t appeared in many television shows since the 1990s, she returned with the NBC comedy Will & Grace as a recurring guest star and worked in The Riches. The latter show earned her nomination for a Golden Globe and an Emmy. The actress also made guest appearances in the shows Deep and Modern Family. In 2016, she landed a prominent role in the three-season series Speechless.
She has made a splash in new Hollywood for her drama and comedy performances and her musical chops. As mentioned by Parade, Minnie Driver starred as Queen Beatrice in the 2021 modern musical Cinderella in a female-driven story starring Camilla Cabello. The film was met with favorable reviews after its release on Amazon Prime. In the film, she reunited with Pierce Brosnan as he starred as the King. She also appeared in an episode of the British version of the hit Anthology series Modern Love.
Minnie Driver has slowed her active working schedule and focused on her young family over the last few years. Along with making appearances in television shows and movies, she has recently released her first memoir, Managing Expectations. She has penned down essays about her life which give a deeper insight into her childhood and work in Hollywood.
Sources: Hello Magazine, Celebrity Net Worth, Hollywood Reporter, Parade