MINNIE'S ALL SET FOR HER SOLO ROLE AS MOTHER

Minnie soon to be a Mum

Thursday July 24,2008

As she prepares for the arrival of her first child, eight-months-pregnant Minnie Driver announces that she feels no compulsion to involve the un-named father in its birth and is looking forward to parenting alone.

Los Angeles-based Minnie – who revealed her pregnancy on a chat-show in March – has declared that she will not be identifying the father, whom she says is English and works in showbusiness.

He will not be present at the birth.

“I’m not married and I don’t know if I’ll stay with the guy,” says the Good Will Hunting star. “If he wants to come out and talk about it, he’s more than welcome to. But since he doesn’t live his life in the public eye, it’s something I want to keep private.

“My mum and aunt Serena will be with me, as will my best friends, a midwife and a yoga teacher. And I’ll be the wailing monster at the centre.”

The 38-year-old, who came to fame in the movie adaptation of Maeve Binchy’s Circle Of Friends, says she is
not concerned that the baby’s father may not be around in years to come.

“It’s great to be an independent creature,” says Minnie, who discovered
a previous relationship with actor Matt Damon had ended when he announced the split on Oprah Winfrey’s show.

“Today you don’t need a man any more. In the old days, [have] a baby without marriage and people would put you out. Today you speak about it on talk shows. I’m very into feeling this female thing.”

Far from being lonely, London-born Minnie says her dog has been her comfort through difficult times.

“With this pregnancy I was very sick the first four months,” she explains. “My black labrador Bubba, my constant loving companion, knew it. He’d see me lying on the couch. He’d stay with me. He felt for me.”