Minnie Driver: ‘I Don’t Make Any Concessions for Age’

What are your top two favorite?

Well, honestly, Dahlia Malloy from [the FX series] The Riches — that was my favorite character I’ve ever played, for sure. And then I would probably say Benny from Circle of Friends is my next.

Has your teenage son [Henry, 15] watched your movies?

Yeah, I think rather awkwardly. He watched Good Will Hunting. He did call me and say, “Is it OK if I watch this movie?” And I was like, “Yeah, I mean, sure. Like, 100 percent.” But Grosse Pointe Blank I was a little bit more iffy about, because it was a lot more violent and there was some sex in it. It was weird, but he takes everything in stride. He loves Princess Mononoke. That's probably his favorite of the movies I’ve made.

Would you encourage or discourage him to go into show business?

I would say what I would tell any young person who asks, which is: “If you genuinely feel like there is nothing else you want to do in your life except create and storytell — not be famous — but if you want to be a storyteller and you feel that your medium is being an actor, then do it. But also write and also think about directing, and definitely produce. So if you’re gonna be an actor, you need to be thinking about all those things at the very top of your career.” I wish someone had told me that.

What else would you tell your younger self?

To enjoy it more. To worry less about the future. Be more present. Write in your journal every day if you possibly can, even if it’s two lines, because it’s really fun to look back. It really helps you give context to your life.

You started a podcast back in 2021 and have interviewed dozens of famous names. Who would you still love to talk to?

I’d really like to talk to Donald Trump — listen, if we’re talking about a cultural anthology — but at the same time, Michelle Obama is probably my number one. Trump is probably number two. I’d ask them the same seven questions I ask to all my guests: [When and where were you happiest? What quality do you like least about yourself? What relationship — real or fictionalized — defines love for you? What would be your last meal? What person, place or experience has most altered your life? What question would you most like answered? And what in your life has grown out of a personal disaster?]

Who has surprised you the most when you’ve interviewed them?

I was really touched by [former U.K. prime minister] Tony Blair. I was really touched by the meeting of science and faith in his world. He is a devout Christian, but also an extraordinary supporter of scientific research. I’m always interested at the net of those two things, and certainly the point where they come together with him was very interesting. And also what fueled his life. I didn’t know how he’d been orphaned at age 13, and his professors and teachers at school and university really became huge mentors for him, which gave a lot of context for the choices that he made as a politician, which I found very, very, very interesting.

Now that you’re in your 50s, are you making any lifestyle changes?

No, I’m just carrying on living my life. I just refuse to subscribe to age as the benchmark of anything except wisdom and continued curiosity. I surf every day. I do all the stuff that I’ve done pretty much my whole life. I watched both my parents live to a great age, and they were as youthful and engaged as they ever were, right to the very end. So, yeah, I don’t make any concessions for age. I suppose I will have to at some point, but that day is not today.