Minnie Driver: with an upcoming role in a buzzy big-screen musical and a debut album to take out on the road, the actress is enjoying a return to her first love: music

Interview, Nov, 2004 by Debbie Harry

From the very first notes of her introspective debut, Everything I've Got in My Pocket (Zoe Records), it's clear that music isn't just a rainy-day hobby for Minnie Driver. Anyone suspicious of an album by a freshly annointed "actress-musician" will be disarmed by the ethereal dreaminess of the music as well as the breathy, emotive qualities of Driver's singing. With a new record and tour, plus a leading role in Joel Schumacher's upcoming film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, it's clear that music is going to play a much bigger role in Driver's career from now on.

DEBORAH HARRY: Hi, Minnie. How are you?

MINNIE DRIVER: I'm very good, thank you. I just got back from Costa Rica.

DH: Oh, wow!

MD: There was a puma on my deck two mornings ago! [laughs]

DH: No kidding? They're big cats.

MD: It was beautiful. They're like big pussycats.

DH: You do a lot of traveling to all sorts of remote places, don't you?

MD: Yeah, I do. I love it. I love seeing other places. It just informs so much of my life. It makes me feel like I live in the world as opposed to just living in America. And I feel that when you're single with no children, it's the time to do it.

DH: Speaking of children, I've been listening to your album and the last song on it, "Ruby Adeline," is so pretty. And I felt like it was maybe something that you had been thinking of for a child that you might have some day.

MD: Aw, thanks so much! That song is about a dear friend of mine's baby. He and his wife have this little tiny baby, and it seems such a celebration of everything that I don't have, but can't wait to have. I've found that babies are very inspirational.

DH: So you actually started out doing music before your acting career took off?

MD: Yeah, I did. I went to a school where you had to either sing or take a musical instrument, so it was very much a part of the fabric of my early life. And when I was around 17 or 18 I was living in London, and one of the bands I was in got signed to Island Records. But we were young and kind of flailing, I think, and we didn't have too much guidance. It didn't go so welt, so we got dropped. [laughs] But it was a pretty good lesson. I was about to sign another record deal when Circle of Friends [1995] came out. I mean, I was totally broke, and I'd gone and made this movie. When it came out and it was kind of a success, I just got pulled on this other tangent, which for me is all part of the same thing. I've never separated them, music and acting--they really do come from the same source for me. They're parallel lives. Then movie followed movie followed movie, and there really wasn't ever time to sit down and make a record. I always played music, but it was never for anyone except my friends and me.

DH: Did you have co-writers on any of the songs?

MD: I co-wrote "Invisible Girl" with [album producer] Doc [Dauer] and with Jeff Trott, who has written a lot with Sheryl Crow.

DH: Would you ever consider writing a song for or with her?

MD: Sure! It always seems like a strange idea that someone would want to sing something I'd written, but I'd love to do that. I love the idea of writing something and then giving it up. And other people come and they sing the way that they sing it.

DH: Oh, absolutely. Everybody hears something in a different way. I mean, that's the old joke about lyrics--if you can't hear what the lyric is, make up something. [laughs]

MD: YOU know that Elton John song? I always sang it [sings] "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" for "Hold me closer, tiny dancer." [both laugh]

DH: You've had such great experiences with directors. What was it like working with Joel Schumacher?

MD: He's the love of my life! For someone to be that witty and deeply observant about the world, but also have such resonating kindness in them--you can never put one over on this man. You can't bullshit him. And in return you get this wonderful safety net of truth and friendship. On Phantom I genuinely had the best time I've ever had making a film and probably worked as hard as I've ever worked. But it was a deeply satisfying experience. DH: So, now you're taking your album on the road, huh?

MD: Yeah! We're takin' the show on the road! [laughs]

DH: That's great! Well, I'm gonna have to come see you.

MD: Awesome.

DH: You'll have to put me on your list.

MD: Oh, my God, I can't believe I'm going to be putting Deborah Harry on my list!

Deborah Harry and her group, Blondie, recently completed a tour in support of their latest album, The Curse of Blondie (Sanctuary).