Minnie Driver Still Cites Matt Damon as a Favorite Costar 28 Years Later

Minnie Driver Reflects on Her Time with Matt Damon and the Legacy of Good Will Hunting

Minnie Driver recently took a trip down memory lane at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, where she shared her thoughts on one of her most iconic film roles. The actress, now 55, appeared on E! Live from the Red Carpet to discuss her experience working with Matt Damon on the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. She described the movie as one of her all-time favorite projects and highlighted how much she enjoyed working with Damon and his co-star Ben Affleck.

"I’ve got to say Matt and Ben were pretty fun when they were just getting going, raring to go, just kids," Driver said during the interview. She also praised John Cusack, her co-star in Grosse Pointe Blank, calling him "incredibly intellectually challenging and stimulating and fun."

The relationship between Driver and Damon began while they were filming Good Will Hunting. Though their romance was brief, it left a lasting impression on both actors. The couple split in early 1998, and the official end of their relationship came when Damon denied having a girlfriend during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Despite the end of their romantic connection, Driver still considers Damon one of her favorite costars. In a 2024 interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show, she reflected on the breakup, noting that at the time, she was "totally heartbroken." When asked what she would tell her then-25-year-old self, she responded, "I wish I could have told her, ‘Honey it’s cool, you can celebrate and life’s gonna be great and beautiful and hard and amazing… You’re going to love again, it’ll be fine.’"

Good Will Hunting, written by Damon and Affleck and directed by Gus Van Sant, went on to win Academy Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Robin Williams’ performance. Driver herself received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film.

In addition to her work in Good Will Hunting, Driver has had a long and successful career in both television and film. Recently, she made a guest appearance in season 5 of Netflix’s Emily in Paris. She is also a mother to one son, Henry, whom she welcomed in 2008. The identity of Henry’s father remains private.

Since 2019, Driver has been romantically linked to filmmaker Addison O’Dea. Her personal and professional life continues to evolve, but her legacy as an actor remains firmly rooted in her work on Good Will Hunting.

Driver’s recent appearance at the Golden Globe Awards served as a reminder of her enduring presence in Hollywood. As she looks back on her career, she continues to appreciate the people who have shaped it, including her former co-stars and the films that defined her early success.

Her reflections on the past highlight not only the challenges of fame but also the resilience and growth that come with time. For fans of Good Will Hunting, her words offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes story of one of the most beloved films of the 1990s.