Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver (born Amelia Driver on January 31, 1970) is a British 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.

Music career

Driver was born to parents of 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.

Related Topics:
Irish - Scottish - Italian - French - Island Records

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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.

Related Topics:
Music in 2000 - In 2004 - EMI - Rounder Records - SXSW - Wallflowers - Pete Yorn - Bruce Springsteen - The River

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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).

Related Topics:
2004 - Carlotta Giudicelli - Joel Schumacher - The Phantom of the Opera - Andrew Lloyd Webber

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