Minnie Driver has opened up about the real reason she looked so devastated at the 1998 Academy Awards, when her ex Matt Damon won Best Original Screenplay for “Good Will Hunting” just weeks after they split.
Minnie Was “Gutted” Matt Took New Girlfriend as Date
According to Driver, she was “gutted” that Damon took his new girlfriend to the Oscars as his date so soon after ending their high-profile relationship (source). They had gone to the Golden Globes together just a month earlier.
The actress recalled feeling shocked seeing Damon arrive with Winona Ryder on his arm after she expected they might reconcile post-breakup.
“I was just kind of stunned. All the armor that I’d carefully constructed about seeing him and them together, it was just shredded in that moment.” (source)
| December 1997 | Damon and Driver split after over a year together |
| January 1998 | Exes attend Golden Globes as dates weeks after breakup |
| March 1998 | Damon brings Ryder as his Oscar date shortly after split with Driver |
Minnie “Fell Apart” Seeing Ex Celebrate as She Suffered
Watching Damon radiantly accept his award and enjoy his career high as she sat heartbroken and struggling with the split proved devastating for Driver.
“I was just kind of shattered by it, really. I just felt like I had done a big sort of behalf of the film and just couldn’t take part in any of the celebrations or joy of it.” (source)
In contrast to Damon’s celebratory evening, Driver describes feeling despair and having “completely lost” herself at the time after fully dedicating herself to the role and relationship.
The emotional clarity after a quarter-century helped the actress further understand the significance of that painful Oscar night.
“I’d loved him so much, but I knew that night it was all over. I knew he didn’t love me back.” (source)
What’s Next: Minnie Found Happiness After Heartbreak
While her devastating Oscar night remained imprinted as Driver struggled with the breakup, she fortunately found personal and professional fulfillment in later years.
She speaks of her current partner and their son, who helped her learn “what real love is” after past relationship turmoil. (source)
Professionally, Driver recently directed, wrote and starred in the 2022 Lifetime holiday film A Christmas Star. She continues acting while increasingly moving towards behind-the-scenes creative roles.
With raw vulnerability, Minnie Driver compellingly opened up about her emotional unraveling at the 1998 Oscars. Her courage to revisit old wounds hopefully inspires others to reflect on past heartbreaks that formed who they are today.
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