Four years ago, when Minnie Driver revealed her pregnancy on an American talk show, she chose to keep the father’s identity private.
Instead, she concentrated on raising her son, Henry, as a single mother, supported by friends in Los Angeles.
However, she now feels more at ease discussing the identity of the boy’s father, asserting: ‘I don’t need to protect him any more. He can fend for himself. He’s a grown-up.’
Previously, Miss Driver mentioned: ‘Our relationship was very complicated and private, and I honestly didn’t want to have to talk about it.
‘I didn’t want people approaching him … and raising eyebrows.’
In her recent promotion of the low-budget British film Hunky Dory, she dropped several hints regarding his identity, mentioning he was a writer for The Riches, the American television series where she co-starred with comedian Eddie Izzard.
When asked if he was a good father to Henry, she replied: ‘Sort of. He’s figuring it out . . . He hasn’t been that involved; his choice. But he is now.’
Timothy J Lea, 52, a co-producer of The Riches and successful shows like CSI New York and Law and Order, is Henry’s father.
Miss Driver, 42, briefly dated him before their separation. Henry’s publicly available birth certificate lists his mother as Amelia Minnie Driver, her full name, and his father as Timothy Jonathan Lea, who was born in Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
Mr. Lea grew up in Australia before moving to America, where he graduated from high school in Stamford, Connecticut.
Reflecting on her choice to keep his identity concealed, Miss Driver stated: ‘We weren’t together and he wasn’t in the industry, so I chose to protect him and avoid a wave of publicity. He’s not famous. There’s no big story.’
Minnie desires for her son to receive an education in the UK, as she ‘had such a wicked time at school.’
Despite their breakup prior to Henry’s birth, Miss Driver mentioned that she has managed well as a single working mother: ‘I had good friends around me, so it was sort of hilarious.
‘At that time, while making a film, paparazzi would shout: “Who’s the sperm donor?” at me.’
The actress, known for past relationships with Matt Damon and an engagement to Barbra Streisand’s stepson Josh Brolin, also shared insights into her unconventional upbringing as one of two children born from an affair.
Her mother, Gaynor Churchward, a former couture model and designer, was the mistress of her father, Ron Driver, a self-made millionaire who had a wife and daughter unaware of his other family.
Speaking about her childhood, she said: ‘My father lived his life and didn’t look much beyond that evening. But I think that’s a good thing. I see similarities with him in a way.’
Last night, during an appearance on Graham Norton’s show, Miss Driver, famed for her role in Good Will Hunting, expressed her desire to relocate back to Britain for her son’s benefit.
‘I would really like to move back,’ she disclosed to the chat show host.
‘I would really like him to have part of his education here, because I had such a wicked time at school.
‘However, my lovely house in Hollywood would likely only afford a one-bedroom flat in London – I might be priced out of living here.’
There was no comment from either Miss Driver’s or Mr. Lea’s representatives.
by Lorelle Heath
